| Registering |
How the Registration and Assessment works
If you withdraw your child from school you need to tell them that you will be home
educating. We recommend that you advise the school in writing. However, be aware
that you do not need to meet with school officials to discuss withdrawing your child
from school if you do not wish to. You just need to let them know that you are
withdrawing your child from school, and will be home educating. Some schools
have made the withdrawal process very difficult and have told parents that they will
be reported to Education Welfare Officers or Social Services. They have no right to do
this purely on the basis that you will be home educating. It does appear that some
teaching staff see home education as similar to truancy and are unaware that it is a
Constitutional right under Article 42, or that there is a legal right enshrined in the
Education Welfare Act. However, it is in your own interests to be very clear with the
school that you will be home educating and that you are aware of your obligations
under the Education Welfare Act. If you do receive a visit or a call from an Education
Welfare Officer, just tell them that you are home educating. They might offer
information about the Registration and Assessment system for home educators.
Under the current system, they have no role in assessing home education and most
know little or nothing about it. You may receive a visit, if it is thought by the authorities
that your children are truants or that you are an unregistered home educator. For this
reason, it is in your interest to tell the school you will be registering with the NEWB.
Please note this is not a recommendation to register, it is a suggestion that you tell
the school you intend to register. Whether you decide to register is your own
decision and HEN neither supports or opposes Registration. Be aware that your
details will be passed onto the NEWB who will contact you at some stage. The
decision is yours as to whether you contact the NEWB before they get in touch with
you. If you have never sent your children to school the responsibility is yours to
contact the NEWB. There is provision within the Act to match databases to find
information. An example of this is that all records of those receiving child benefit
could be matched with all children attending school and any discrepancies
investigated. It is a legal obligation to apply for registration.
Sample letter for use when withdrawing your child from school (please adjust to suit
your circumstances).
Dear (Principal’s name)
I wish to inform you that I will be withdrawing (child’s name) from school as from
(date) in order to home educate. The parental right to home educate is stated in
Article 42 of the Irish Constitution and upheld in the Education Welfare Act. I am also
aware of my obligation under the Constitution and the Education Welfare Act to
provide a minimum education for my child/ren.
The NEWB can be contacted on 01-8738700, Fax 01-8738798 or a Lo-call number
1890 363666. You can also look at www.newb.ie or send an email to
registration@newb.ie
When you contact the NEWB you will be sent an application form and a copy of the
guidelines. An information leaflet concerning the requirements for children educated
outside recognised schools is also in preparation. Upon the return of the application
form you will be contacted by the person who will make the assessment to arrange
an interview. This interview will take place in a venue of your choice and your child
(ren) need not be present. The interview will be based on what you have said in your
application. You need to show the interviewer that you are providing a ‘minimum
education’ (see below). This is called the Preliminary Assessment. If they are able to
determine that you are providing a ‘minimum education’ your child will be put on the
Register of children educated in places other than recognised schools. If they are
not able to determine whether you are providing a ‘minimum education’ a
comprehensive assessment will be carried out. This is much more in-depth and
involves the assessor spending some time with you watching what you do with your
child(ren), inspecting your educational materials and talking to your child(ren). If the
NEWB then refuse registration an appeal process has been built into the Act.
You need to look at what you do and think how it meets the requirements of a
‘minimum education’. You then need to be able to present this on your application
form and during the Preliminary assessment interview in such a way that it is very
clear to the assessor that you are providing a ‘minimum education’.
If you withdraw your child from school you need to tell them that you will be home
educating. We recommend that you advise the school in writing. However, be aware
that you do not need to meet with school officials to discuss withdrawing your child
from school if you do not wish to. You just need to let them know that you are
withdrawing your child from school, and will be home educating. Some schools
have made the withdrawal process very difficult and have told parents that they will
be reported to Education Welfare Officers or Social Services. They have no right to do
this purely on the basis that you will be home educating. It does appear that some
teaching staff see home education as similar to truancy and are unaware that it is a
Constitutional right under Article 42, or that there is a legal right enshrined in the
Education Welfare Act. However, it is in your own interests to be very clear with the
school that you will be home educating and that you are aware of your obligations
under the Education Welfare Act. If you do receive a visit or a call from an Education
Welfare Officer, just tell them that you are home educating. They might offer
information about the Registration and Assessment system for home educators.
Under the current system, they have no role in assessing home education and most
know little or nothing about it. You may receive a visit, if it is thought by the authorities
that your children are truants or that you are an unregistered home educator. For this
reason, it is in your interest to tell the school you will be registering with the NEWB.
Please note this is not a recommendation to register, it is a suggestion that you tell
the school you intend to register. Whether you decide to register is your own
decision and HEN neither supports or opposes Registration. Be aware that your
details will be passed onto the NEWB who will contact you at some stage. The
decision is yours as to whether you contact the NEWB before they get in touch with
you. If you have never sent your children to school the responsibility is yours to
contact the NEWB. There is provision within the Act to match databases to find
information. An example of this is that all records of those receiving child benefit
could be matched with all children attending school and any discrepancies
investigated. It is a legal obligation to apply for registration.
Sample letter for use when withdrawing your child from school (please adjust to suit
your circumstances).
Dear (Principal’s name)
I wish to inform you that I will be withdrawing (child’s name) from school as from
(date) in order to home educate. The parental right to home educate is stated in
Article 42 of the Irish Constitution and upheld in the Education Welfare Act. I am also
aware of my obligation under the Constitution and the Education Welfare Act to
provide a minimum education for my child/ren.
The NEWB can be contacted on 01-8738700, Fax 01-8738798 or a Lo-call number
1890 363666. You can also look at www.newb.ie or send an email to
registration@newb.ie
When you contact the NEWB you will be sent an application form and a copy of the
guidelines. An information leaflet concerning the requirements for children educated
outside recognised schools is also in preparation. Upon the return of the application
form you will be contacted by the person who will make the assessment to arrange
an interview. This interview will take place in a venue of your choice and your child
(ren) need not be present. The interview will be based on what you have said in your
application. You need to show the interviewer that you are providing a ‘minimum
education’ (see below). This is called the Preliminary Assessment. If they are able to
determine that you are providing a ‘minimum education’ your child will be put on the
Register of children educated in places other than recognised schools. If they are
not able to determine whether you are providing a ‘minimum education’ a
comprehensive assessment will be carried out. This is much more in-depth and
involves the assessor spending some time with you watching what you do with your
child(ren), inspecting your educational materials and talking to your child(ren). If the
NEWB then refuse registration an appeal process has been built into the Act.
You need to look at what you do and think how it meets the requirements of a
‘minimum education’. You then need to be able to present this on your application
form and during the Preliminary assessment interview in such a way that it is very
clear to the assessor that you are providing a ‘minimum education’.
 | Go to Information about the Assessment Process | |
| Download the Information Sheet on Irish Home Education (RTF file 64KB) | |
Other opinions on the right to home educate:
Although home education was known and practiced since well before the formation of
the Irish State, it has become much more popular during the last two decades. A
second generation of home educators is emerging. Parents with a lot of experience
and confidence in learning with their children feel that education in a home
environment is fundamentally different from classroom learning. They are of the
opinion that home education has to be experienced to be understood. They believe
that the methods used by the education system and those used in home education
are equally valid under the Irish constitution. But they also believe that because of the
fundamental differences between the two approaches it is neither appropriate nor
necessary for the state education system to impose a standardised “assessment” on
those who educate at home. A number of families who hold this view have
“registered” their children with the National Education Welfare Board by sending in
their details together with a declaration reaffirming their constitution rights and
formally committing to ensure their children will be educated above the required
minimum standard. To date there have been no difficulties with the approach
although its formal legality has not been tested in the courts.
Copies of this declaration can be obtained by contacting Ien O’Sullivan at 051-291367.