This audit assessed the performance of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the NSW Department of Education in regulating home schooling and in providing alternative school settings, specifically: distance education schools, hospital schools, intensive learning support schools (formerly known as emotional disturbance/behaviour disorder schools) and youth justice centre schools. 

Alternative school settings aim to provide education and sustain education continuity for students who would otherwise not be able to receive an education in mainstream settings – because they are in youth detention, hospital, remote areas or travelling, experiencing difficulties with behaviour and emotional regulation, or suffering severe anxiety or other mental health challenges.

While only enrolling or registering a small proportion of New South Wales primary and secondary students, alternative school settings and home schooling have a higher proportion of vulnerable students than mainstream schools.

The report finds that the Department and NESA have not effectively supported eligible students to receive a quality education in alternative school settings and home schooling. It makes three recommendations to the Department of Education, now responsible for regulating home schooling as well as for providing alternative school settings.

Recommendations

1. Develop and implement a strategy for alternative school settings that recognises their specialised nature.
2. Work with the home schooling community on reforms to regulation.
3. Identify the child safety monitoring risks in the alternative school settings and in home schooling regulation, and ensure fit-for-purpose mechanisms are in place to address these.