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Home Schooling Registration in NSW (2026): Requirements, Documents and the Authorised Person Visit
How home schooling registration works in NSW: the Department's requirements, documents, the Authorised Person visit and timeframes, with sources.
Read the guideKey points
• Home schooling in NSW is regulated by the NSW Department of Education, which took over the function from NESA on 5 May 2025 [1][2].
• The Department describes three stages: preparing an educational program, submitting an application, and assessment by an Authorised Person [3].
• The registration guidelines require the program to be "based on and taught in accordance with the relevant NESA syllabuses" [4].
• Primary programs presented for assessment have needed to use the new English K–10 and Mathematics K–10 syllabuses since 2025 [5].
• The guidelines state that the process may take up to 12 weeks, with an average of around 7 weeks [6].
Who registers home schooling in NSW?
The NSW Government's home schooling page states that "Parents in NSW are allowed to choose home schooling to provide for the compulsory schooling of their children" [1]. To be home schooled, a child must be registered by the NSW Department of Education and live in NSW [1].
The Audit Office of NSW reports that NESA regulated home schooling until 5 May 2025, when the function moved to the Department [2]. The same report records 5,906 home schooling registrations in 2019 and 12,762 in 2024 [2]. It also reports that 54% of children home schooled in 2024 had previously attended a NSW public school [2].
The Department has drafted new registration policy and procedures. Its public consultation closed on 10 August 2026, and the current guidelines remain in effect until the new policy is finalised [1].
Who can be registered
The guidelines state that a child living in NSW may be registered at the start of a calendar year if they turn 5 on or before 31 July of that year [4]. Registration is available up to age 18, and for up to 2 further years to complete the planned educational program [4]. Children younger than 6 are not required to be enrolled in school or registered for home schooling [4].
Stage 1: The educational program
The Department's application page says an educational program is planned before an application is assessed [3]. The guidelines list seven requirements for registration [4]:
• the child's educational program "is based on and taught in accordance with the relevant NESA syllabuses";
• the program is suitable for the child's identified learning needs;
• there is "an adequate system for planning, supervising and recording teaching and learning experiences";
• there is "an adequate system for recording the child's progress and achievement";
• the time allocated to learning is enough to cover the curriculum;
• the home learning environment is suitable for effective home schooling;
• the identified resources are adequate to support the child's learning.
For Kindergarten to Year 6, the guidelines list six mandatory key learning areas: English; Mathematics; Science and Technology; Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE), covering History and/or Geography; Creative Arts; and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) [7]. In primary, History and Geography "may be taught together, separately or integrated with other areas of the curriculum" [7].
NSW syllabuses are being renewed. The Department's curriculum reform page states that all primary programs presented for assessment now need to be based on English K–10 and Mathematics K–10 [5]. New K–6 syllabuses for Creative Arts, HSIE, PDHPE, and Science and Technology are available for early use [5].
The guidelines do not set a single teaching method. They state that "parents may choose their preferred methods and resources" as long as the requirements are met [8]. The approaches they name include an educational philosophy, an interest or project-based approach, a commercial program, or a combination [8]. Programs and records "may be paper based, project based, digital or a combination of different mediums" [8].
Stage 2: The application
According to the guidelines, an application can be made at any time of year, online through the Home Schooling Platform or on a form from the Home Schooling Directorate [6]. A separate application is required for each child [6]. The guidelines note that parents "are advised to apply 3 months in advance" of when they want to start or continue home schooling [6].
The Department lists these supporting documents [3]:
• the child's birth certificate or other identity document;
• two documents confirming the NSW residential address where home schooling will take place;
• any relevant court orders or guardianship documents.
The Department states that these documents confirm information on the registration certificate, "including the child's name, date of birth and registered address" [3]. A change of home address during a period of registration must be notified to the Home Schooling Directorate [3].
Stage 3: The Authorised Person visit
After administrative processing, an application is "allocated to an Authorised Person for assessment by home visit" [9]. The guidelines state: "The child is not assessed." [9] The child must be sighted during the visit unless there are exceptional and compelling circumstances [6].
The guidelines list materials a parent can have available for the visit, including [6]:
• the educational program, showing how it is based on NESA syllabuses;
• information about the child's learning needs and how the program supports them;
• materials showing planning, supervising and recording of teaching and learning;
• materials showing the system for recording progress and achievement;
• materials showing how time is allocated, how the home supports learning, and how resources are adequate.
For an initial application, the Authorised Person considers whether the information "demonstrates a capacity to meet the requirements" [6]. For a renewal, the Authorised Person reviews "records of the implemented educational program" [9].
The Authorised Person then recommends whether the application should be approved and, if so, the period of registration [9]. The guidelines state: "Most applications are approved." [9] An initial registration is generally shorter than the 2-year maximum, because records showing how the program was taught only exist once it has been delivered [6]. The certificate specifies the child's name and home address, the Year level or stage of the curriculum, and the period of registration [6].
Records during registration
The requirements state that "Records of implementing the child's educational program must be kept to show how the program has been delivered and how the requirements for registration are being met" [4].
The guidelines say that, as a guide, parents typically keep plans, records and other information about [8]:
• the child's learning needs;
• content for the program;
• the child's learning progress and interests;
• learning activities based on NESA syllabuses;
• the time allocated to learning;
• resources;
• how the home and local environment support learning.
The guidelines also state that NESA does not prescribe any particular method, resource or format, and that sample programs prepared by home schooling parents are published on NESA's website [8].
An illustrative layout, built around the two record-keeping requirements [4], could include:
1. A term plan for each learning area, listing topics week by week with the syllabus outcomes they relate to.
2. A dated log of learning activities, recorded against the plan.
3. Dated work samples, filed by learning area, such as written work, worksheets and photos of practical tasks.
4. A short progress note for each learning area at the end of each term.
The first two items relate to the requirement for "planning, supervising and recording teaching and learning experiences" [4]. The last two relate to "recording the child's progress and achievement" [4]. It is one possible structure, not a Department format.
How long registration takes
The guidelines state: "Although the process may take up to 12 weeks, the average time is around 7 weeks." [6]
Where Noooli fits
Noooli publishes free term planners (/planners) with one maths, English or science topic a week for Kindergarten to Year 6, with Australian Curriculum wording and NSW and Victorian codes. It also publishes free printable worksheets (/worksheets), with an answer page and a parent tip for every question. These cover maths, English and science only. Noooli is not a registered provider and is not connected with any education department. Its NSW page is at /homeschool/nsw.
References
1. NSW Government, Department of Education, "Home schooling", last updated 27 July 2026, https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schooling
2. Audit Office of New South Wales, "Report snapshot: Alternative school settings and home schooling", 25 September 2025, https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/media-release/report-snapshot-alternative-school-settings-and-home-schooling
3. NSW Government, Department of Education, "Applying to register for home schooling", https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schooling/applying-to-register
4. NSW Government, Department of Education, "Guidelines for home schooling registration in NSW — 4. Requirements for registration", https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schooling/registration-guidelines/requirements-for-registration
5. NSW Government, Department of Education, "Curriculum Reform and home schooling", https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schooling/support-material/curriculum-reform-home-schooling
6. NSW Government, Department of Education, "Guidelines for home schooling registration in NSW — 6. Application and assessment process", https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schooling/registration-guidelines/6-application-and-assessment-process
7. NSW Government, Department of Education, "Guidelines for home schooling registration in NSW — 8. Primary education curriculum – Kindergarten to Year 6", https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schooling/registration-guidelines/k-to-6-curriculum
8. NSW Government, Department of Education, "Guidelines for home schooling registration in NSW — 5. Methods and resources", https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schooling/registration-guidelines/methods-and-resources
9. NSW Government, Department of Education, "Guidelines for home schooling registration in NSW — 3. Home schooling registration at a glance", https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/home-schooling/registration-guidelines/registration-at-a-glance
Common questions
Who registers home schooling in NSW?
The NSW Department of Education registers children for home schooling. The Audit Office of NSW reports that the function moved from NESA (the NSW Education Standards Authority) to the Department on 5 May 2025. Applications can be made online through the Department's Home Schooling Platform.
Does a home schooling program in NSW have to follow the NSW syllabuses?
Yes. The registration guidelines require the program to be "based on and taught in accordance with the relevant NESA syllabuses". For primary programs, the new English K–10 and Mathematics K–10 syllabuses have been required since 2025. The guidelines leave the choice of methods and resources to parents, as long as the requirements are met.
How long does home schooling registration take in NSW?
The registration guidelines state that the process may take up to 12 weeks, and that the average time is around 7 weeks.
