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Assessment by an Authorised Person
Home visits
Home visits allow NESA to effectively assess:
- the educational program for the child
- whether the requirements for home schooling registration are being met or, for new applicants, could be met.
During a home visit, an Authorised Person (AP) from NESA will discuss and review the educational program with the parent. This means that you will have the opportunity to meet the AP who will assess your application for home schooling registration when they visit your home.
Recommencement of home visits
From 29 April 2024, applications for initial home schooling registration will be assessed by home visit.
In April 2023, home visits recommenced for applications for renewal of registration, Certificates of Completion of Year 10 and site visits. Recommencing home visits for initial applications means that all applications for home schooling registration will be assessed by home visit.
If your initial assessment is scheduled before 29 April 2024, it will occur by documentation review and video call.
What to expect
What you can expect at a home visit may depend on several factors including:
- how many children you have applied for
- your own experience with home schooling
- the length of your previous period of registration
- whether it is an assessment of an application for initial registration, renewal of registration, a Certificate of Completion of Year 10, or a site visit.
Assessment process
The Authorised Person will contact you to arrange a suitable time to conduct the home visit. They will need to sight your child and your child’s home learning environment during the assessment. You may also wish to advise them of any circumstances regarding your home, for example pets to be aware of, or advice about parking.
If your application is for initial registration, renewal of registration or a Certificate of Completion of Year 10, we encourage you to:
- familiarise yourself with the requirements for registration as described in the Guidelines
- gather the records you have prepared for your application so that the AP can easily review them on the day of the visit
- create an area where the AP can view documentation, make notes, and discuss your application with you
- consider the lighting, ventilation, and furniture design of the learning environment
- prepare any questions you may have for the AP.
If the Authorised Person is visiting your home to conduct a site visit, you are encouraged to:
- consider the lighting, ventilation, and furniture design of the learning environment
- prepare any questions you may have for them.
You may wish to refer to Section 6 of the Guidelines for Home Schooling Registration in NSW to help prepare for an application for initial or renewal registration.
You can refer to Section 11 of the Guidelines for information about the Certificate of Completion of Year 10.
A home visit often takes 30 to 90 minutes.
During the visit, the Authorised Person will:
- review, and have regard to, records relating to each of the requirements for registration if your application is for initial or renewal registration
- review records of the implementation of the educational program if your application is for a Certificate of Completion of Year 10
- need to sight your child and your child’s home learning environment
- not assess your child
- typically inform you of the recommendation they will make regarding home schooling registration.
If your application is for initial registration, the AP will review and discuss your proposed educational program. If your application is for renewal of registration, the AP will review and discuss your child's current and proposed educational program. You will be able to engage in meaningful conversation about your child’s learning and the educational program you have implemented and plan to implement.
We encourage families and Authorised Persons to implement the health measures below to reduce the risk of infection.
The Authorised Person will make a recommendation about your home schooling registration. NESA will consider the AP’s recommendation and make a decision.
If your registration is approved, you will receive a certificate of home schooling registration via email.
Health measures
NESA is committed to protecting the health and safety of children, parents, staff, and members of the public. We encourage families and APs to implement the following measures. This helps keep the community protected and minimise the risk of any infection, including the spread of COVID-19.
- If you or anyone in your family is experiencing cold or flu symptoms on the day of the visit, advise the other party as the home visit may need to be postponed.
- Conduct a COVID-19 test on the day of the visit and inform the other party if the test is positive. If so, the home visit will need to be postponed.
- Wash and sanitise your hands before the visit starts.
- Wear a face mask during the visit.
- Maintain physical distancing during the visit by keeping at least 1.5 metres away from others, where possible.
- Conduct the visit in an area that is well ventilated and open doors and windows, where possible.
Authorised Persons
Authorised Persons include NESA Inspectors and other appointed staff in metropolitan and regional NSW.
NESA’s APs are responsible for:
- assessing applications for home schooling registration
- making recommendations to NESA in relation to home schooling registration.
Read more about Authorised Persons and the registration process in: