A home school program is a written educational plan detailing the topics, content, skills, experiences and teaching methods you will explore with your child. It identifies all the educational resources, learning activities and study hours allocated to each subject. Programs must also show how your planned content links to NSW syllabuses and explain how you intend to assess and track your child’s progress. We take the hassle out of that process for you, giving you the tools and resources you need to meet curriculum requirements and enthuse your child at the same time.

Success and enjoyment in home schooling all starts with finding the right learning program for your child. We believe a personally tailored program is vital to success. Coach House takes an individualised approach. Our programs are mostly self-teaching and highly motivating. We don’t believe in using computer algorithms to assess real, live children. It’s essential that we get to know your child’s preferences and skills to tailor a program specifically, and that’s why we ask you and your child to attend an assessment meeting online.

A good home school program should give you:

• a document mapped specifically to NESA’s syllabus outcomes to support your application for registration

• a realistic assessment plan

• a clear explanation of how the program meets the identified educational needs of your child

• personal consultation, with guidance on implementation

• a plan for assessing your child’s literacy and numeracy skills

• consideration of your child’s favourite topics and activities

• high interest reading material and illustrated reference books

• project-based learning

• special provisions to motivate reluctant learners

The NSW Department of Education has been the regulator of home schooling since May, 2025. They appoint Authorised Persons as inspectors. It is their job is to assess your home school program, then re-assess the delivery of your program to ensure that it meets requirements.

Coach House is based in New South Wales. Our programs are aligned with the NSW state syllabuses.

'NESA' is the NSW Education Standards Authority in Coach House's home state.

NESA is responsible for setting and publishing the NSW Curriculum, overseeing the registration of schools and teachers across the state, and implementing the educational policies that govern state and independent schools. Coach House’s documents all refer to NESA’s syllabuses - which are part of the NSW Curriculum.

You should seek registration with the NSW Department of Education. You must present a home school program that meets NSW’s specific curriculum requirements. Registration for home schooling is a legal requirement in Australia and is one of the provisions of the Education Act. Coach House provides detailed documentation and brings together educational resources to support your application.

If you are new to home schooling, you can begin the process of registration by completing this form:

Application for Initial Registration

Application for Renewal of Registration

The Australian Curriculum is a set of educational goals for each age group that apply right across the nation. Each state or territory puts the Australian Curriculum into practice using their own plan - called a 'syllabus'. NESA’s syllabuses are implemented in the state of New South Wales in private and public schools, and in home schooling.

Learning outcomes are the specific results a program is aimed to achieve. Outcomes are listed in each subject’s syllabus and are given codes. For example, the New South Wales English syllabus requires students to:

• respond to and compose texts for understanding, interpretation and critical analysis (Outcome EN4-1A)

Lists of outcomes like this must be addressed by the learning activities planned in the home school program. But don’t worry – we do all that for you.

In order to be approved for home schooling, you need to attend a meeting with a NSW Education Department representative - either in person or online. The abilities and skills of your child are not assessed. The key factors affecting the outcome are all clearly listed and explained in the Guidelines for Home Schooling.

Requirements include:

• The quality and suitability of the home school program to meet curriculum outcomes

• Your demonstrated capacity and willingness to implement the home school program

• Clear evidence that the learning program has been specifically aligned with the identified learning needs of the child

Rather than focusing on your child’s skills and level of ability, the focus of the Authorised Person (AP) is on how the identified educational needs of the child are to be met in the context of each unique family.

Saying goodbye to your child's school is quite straightforward. First, send the school principal a letter notifying them of your intentions to start home schooling. Some parents prefer to schedule a face-to-face meeting with the principal. While you don't need the school's permission, ensure that you follow their guidelines about giving advance notice. It is a legal requirement that your child remains in school until you have received your certificate of home school registration. For more information, read our free e-book.

Coach House programs have a helpful series of assessment checklists to help you stay organised throughout the year. All you need to do is collect any completed workbooks and projects and compile some photos on a flash drive. Our portfolio system makes all this easy to manage.

You will need to apply for renewal of your registration by contacting the NSW Department of Education. Once they have received your application, a representative will contact you. You will need to show them evidence of the implementation of the program, assessment results and your forward planning for the coming year.