SCHEDULE 1 - Standards for Approved Home Education Programs

Regulation 5

1.    Interpretation

In this Schedule –

relevant child means the school-aged child or youth who is, or is to be, provided with home education under an approved home education program.

2.    Diverse learning needs

An approved home education program is to provide for the relevant child to be provided with a rich educational program that meets their individual needs.

3.    Provision of education by suitable person

An approved home education program is to demonstrate that –

(a) the education to be provided has been well researched; and

(b) the aspects of the areas of education to be provided are thoroughly understood by the person providing the program.

4.    Pedagogy

An approved home education program is to specify the learning methodologies that will be used to meet the aims of the program and how those methodologies will be delivered to the relevant child.

5.    Education relating to safety, health and wellbeing

An approved home education program is to provide for the education of the relevant child in matters relating to safety, health and wellbeing.

6.    Providing for the development of interpersonal skills

An approved home education program is to –

(a) ensure that the relevant child is provided with opportunities to form and maintain friendships, respectful relationships and communication with his or her immediate community and other communities for a wide range of purposes; and

(b) specify how those opportunities will occur.

7.    Literacy

An approved home education program is to ensure that the relevant child –

(a) will experience environments that are rich in literacy; and

(b) will participate in activities that will develop the relevant child's speech, reading, writing and communication.

8.    Numeracy

An approved home education program is to ensure that the relevant child –

(a) will experience environments that are rich in numeracy; and

(b) will learn and practise mathematical concepts.

9.    Range of learning areas

An approved home education program is to –

(a) ensure that the relevant child engages in a broad range of educational areas suitable to his or her educational needs; and

(b) identify all the educational areas to be provided to the relevant child.

10.    Future directions

If the relevant child has attained the age of 13 years, an approved home education program is to specify how the relevant child will be supported to plan future pathways in education, training or employment to ensure that he or she develops to his or her full potential.

11.    Evaluation

An approved home education program is to specify how the relevant child's progress under the program is to be evaluated.