| HEN Ireland. Last update 5th April 2007 Home - About us - Contact us - Learn about HE |
| Withdrawal and Registration HEN Ireland |
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) | |
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