The Ministry of Education policy on being out of New Zealand while home educating is as follows:
If you and your family plan to be away from New Zealand then it may impact on your Certificate of Exemption and your home education supervision allowance:
0-28 days – no effect on your Certificate of Exemption and allowance
More than 28 days, but less than 6 months – no effect on your Certificate of Exemption, but your allowance will be recalculated and only paid for the time in New Zealand
More than 6 months – no effect on your Certificate of Exemption, but your allowance will stop and you will need to apply for it again when you return to New Zealand
If you are going to be away for more than 28 days then you need to let your local Ministry of Education office know.
The home education declaration is one way for the Ministry of Education to check whether home educators are meeting their home education responsibilities. If the form is not signed and returned to the Resourcing Division of the Ministry of Education when required twice each year then the child’s Certificate of Exemption may be revoked. If you are away when the declaration form is due, it’s important that you make arrangements to handle your legal obligations so that your child’s exemption is not unduly cancelled.
At a glance …
- Your child’s exemption may be revoked if the home education declaration isn’t completed twice a year as required
- Your exemption will remain current even if you are overseas (as long as the declaration is completed), but the supervisory allowance will be docked for days out of NZ if away more than 28 days
