Homeschooling
I've home educated my 5 children, as well as for a time an extra teenager, for 25 years. Over the last 10, I've also spent a lot of time helping other new home educators get started. Along the way, I've developed some resources to make home educating easier. My Exemption Guide is listed below, along with other services I offer. I have created some other resources, but am in the process of updating those (check out the Products tab above; more coming as I have time).
On this page, there is info about the ways I can help you with an application including:
To read some of the feedback on my services, see HERE.
On this page, there is info about the ways I can help you with an application including:
- A guide to exemptions to walk you through the application and help you write your own
- Reviewing your application to give you specific feedback and guidance on your application
- Writing the application for you (an option in some circumstances)
- Assisting with difficulties during the application process
- General consulting services - need some ideas and direction? Have questions? Want to talk? Book a consultation
To read some of the feedback on my services, see HERE.
Note: 6th May 2020 I keep my prices as low as I can, in order to help as many families as possible. However, in order to continue, I have had to make slight increases to the cost of some services below. I've also added information on donating to my work for those who would like to.
Home Education Exemption Application Guide Pack
In order to legally home educate your child in New Zealand, the first step is obtaining an exemption from the law that requires all children between the ages of 6-16 to be enrolled in and attending a registered school. The process of obtaining that exemption is not difficult, but it can seem daunting. My guide will lead you step-by-step through the process of successfully obtaining your Certificate of Exemption.
This guide pack has been completely updated to align with the Ministry of Education's new application forms. The pack includes:
71 page step-by-step detailed guide
A Word file version of the application forms for you to use when completing your own application
An example completed application
A discount voucher for $10 off my exemption application review service (see below) - applies once
100's of home educators have successfully used my original application guide to obtain their exemption certificates. This version is even more detailed. Using this guide will make completing your application considerably easier!
This guide pack has been completely updated to align with the Ministry of Education's new application forms. The pack includes:
71 page step-by-step detailed guide
A Word file version of the application forms for you to use when completing your own application
An example completed application
A discount voucher for $10 off my exemption application review service (see below) - applies once
100's of home educators have successfully used my original application guide to obtain their exemption certificates. This version is even more detailed. Using this guide will make completing your application considerably easier!
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Exemption Guide Pack Only $20.00
Ebook set - electronic delivery |
Or Contact Me to pay via Bank Deposit
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NOTE: when you complete the check out for the guide pack, you will be automatically sent an email containing a download link, which expires after 5 attempts or 120 hours, whichever comes first. If you don't see the email, please check your spam folder. Remember to download and save the files right away. If you have any difficulties, email me.
Advocacy, General Support and Liaison Work - Would you like to donate?
I spend many hours each week working on things to benefit all home educators. This is nearly all unpaid work; some is within my voluntary role as Government Liaison for the National Council of Home Educators of NZ (NCHENZ) but much of it goes well beyond that. More information on all that I do, and would like to do in the future, can be found HERE
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If you would like to make a donation, you can use the button to donate by debit or credit card (or Paypal) and select an amount for a one-off donation, or set up a monthly amount if you choose. (Note, the donate button goes through a separate checkout process than purchasing the guide above).
Donations can also be made directly to my bank account: 020704-0003699-007 (please put Donation in the reference field). Thank you for your support! |
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Exemption Application Review Service
Be confident that your exemption application will meet all the MoE's requirements - have it reviewed before you send it in! Over the past few years I have reviewed hundreds of exemption applications, and given detailed, specific guidance about any changes that need making to ensure it will meet the requirements and should be able to be approved without difficulty. While it is always possible someone in one of the offices processing applications will ask for some additional information, usually applications I have reviewed fly through without the need for more information, if my suggestions are followed, because you will have already ensured that you have covered all the required information.*
*Note: By this I do not mean that I will tell you what to say - that is not my role. My role is to help you understand the Ministry's requirements, point out areas where you have not yet provided sufficient information to meet those requirements, and offer suggestions where needed; for example where to find resources you might like to investigate etc. Deciding what and how you will teach your child, and planning their program and your approach to learning are decisions for you as parent to make for yourself.
How it works:
After you have written your application, you email it to me to review. When I do so, I will give detailed feedback about any areas that may need more work. Once you have then updated your application, you can send it back to me to look over again, and continue to do so until it's ready to send in. There is no extra charge for repeated reviews of the same application within a reasonable time. (If more than 3 months has elapsed since the original review, and/or a family has completely changed their approach and written a totally different application, then it becomes a new review).
I also will provide any extra support needed should any issues arise with the MoE, until you successfully receive your exemption certificates.
Not included is editing your document for typos, though I may point out some of them or let you know you need to check for typos. This can be time consuming, so I concentrate on the content of your application. If you would like me to do proofing for typos and grammatical errors, I can do so for an additional charge.
Charges:
$50 to review a single application, or $40 if you have a discount voucher from purchasing my guide pack before June 14th 2020. (Note: discount for guide purchase only applies once)
$10 for each additional application for other family members being reviewed at the same time
$10* per application to correct typos and grammar (optional) (document must be in an editable form such as Word), at the time I am doing the initial review/read through.
Payment is to be made into my bank account when you submit the applications to me. Details will be provided via email.
*Note: if an application has considerable correction needed, I would need to charge for additional time at my hourly rate ($25/hour). This charge also applies if I am asked to do editing of an application on a delayed basis - ie after I've already done the initial review.
My email address is in the exemption guide, or use my Contact Page to get in touch.
*Note: By this I do not mean that I will tell you what to say - that is not my role. My role is to help you understand the Ministry's requirements, point out areas where you have not yet provided sufficient information to meet those requirements, and offer suggestions where needed; for example where to find resources you might like to investigate etc. Deciding what and how you will teach your child, and planning their program and your approach to learning are decisions for you as parent to make for yourself.
How it works:
After you have written your application, you email it to me to review. When I do so, I will give detailed feedback about any areas that may need more work. Once you have then updated your application, you can send it back to me to look over again, and continue to do so until it's ready to send in. There is no extra charge for repeated reviews of the same application within a reasonable time. (If more than 3 months has elapsed since the original review, and/or a family has completely changed their approach and written a totally different application, then it becomes a new review).
I also will provide any extra support needed should any issues arise with the MoE, until you successfully receive your exemption certificates.
Not included is editing your document for typos, though I may point out some of them or let you know you need to check for typos. This can be time consuming, so I concentrate on the content of your application. If you would like me to do proofing for typos and grammatical errors, I can do so for an additional charge.
Charges:
$50 to review a single application, or $40 if you have a discount voucher from purchasing my guide pack before June 14th 2020. (Note: discount for guide purchase only applies once)
$10 for each additional application for other family members being reviewed at the same time
$10* per application to correct typos and grammar (optional) (document must be in an editable form such as Word), at the time I am doing the initial review/read through.
Payment is to be made into my bank account when you submit the applications to me. Details will be provided via email.
*Note: if an application has considerable correction needed, I would need to charge for additional time at my hourly rate ($25/hour). This charge also applies if I am asked to do editing of an application on a delayed basis - ie after I've already done the initial review.
My email address is in the exemption guide, or use my Contact Page to get in touch.
Exemption Application Preparation Service
Would you prefer to have someone write your application for you? I may be able to help. Read on for info for ACE families and for others using alternative curricula...
Exemptions for ACE families:
I specialize in writing applications for families who will be using the ACE curriculum and are enrolled with HSNZ or HENZ. Here's why:
I believe that the process of researching, thinking through, and compiling your exemption application is a valuable one, as it forces you to make decisions and be familiar enough with what you intend to do to be able to articulate it. However, in the case of families who will be using a prescribed curriculum such as ACE, most of the decisions are made for them; it's a matter of knowing how to interpret the diagnostic tests and compile the information as to what will be contained in the prescribed course of study. This can be daunting for a new ACE home educator, who will be in the process of completing parent training. Plus enrolled ACE families will be receiving ongoing support and guidance from their chosen support provider.
As I have used ACE for some of my kids for most of the past 25 years, I am very familiar with the entire programme, and have ready access to all the needed information.
If you are (or plan to be) an enrolled ACE user, and would like me to guide you through the process of getting started with ACE, and to prepare your application, I can do so. It will be a co-operative effort in that you will need to provide me with information about your family, the resources you have available, and your plans for the non-ACE subjects of your curriculum, as well as copies of the diagnostic test results your children have completed, and additional learning ideas you have for the core subjects. I will use this information to prepare a completely personalised application, which will also provide you with a clearly laid out plan for your first year of homeschooling.
Charges:
$125 for the first child's application (minus $10 discount for purchasing my guide which I ask you to do first, as you will need it to refer to)
$85 for each additional child's application completed simultaneously
Payment is made via my bank account.
To discuss this service, Contact Me
To get started, go HERE
Exemptions for families using other curricula:
For families who will be using other kinds of curricula or set resources, I can prepare an application for you if you will be using specific resources for the core subjects of English, Math, Science and Social Studies, where I can access sufficient and suitable information about what will be covered in those subjects. As above, this will also involve you providing me with the additional information I need in the other areas (I send you a document with questions). The educational plan will be entirely yours - my job is simply to assist you in writing it out in a clear manner.
Charges:
These are as above for ACE families, except that I reserve the right to charge for additional time spent over and above the usual time for an application at the rate of $25/hour. This rarely happens, but may do if there is considerable time needed to help you develop your program or to access resource information, or gather information from you.
To discuss this service, Contact Me
To get started, go HERE
Unschoolers or families with no core set curriculum:
I am unable to write applications for you, as by the time you have provided me with all the information about what you'll be doing in each subject area, you'll have practically written it yourself anyway! I recommend that you to write your own application using my guide, and then send it to me to review if you would like some feedback and support. In some instances I'm able to provide further assistance in developing the application, but that is decided case-by-case.
Refund Policy:
If a family requests and pays for my application writing service, then changes their mind, a full refund will be given only if work has not yet commenced. Otherwise, fees will be deducted for time spent @$25/hour (including time spent on phone calls, emails, collecting and reviewing information etc in preparation for writing), and a partial refund offered if applicable.
Exemptions for ACE families:
I specialize in writing applications for families who will be using the ACE curriculum and are enrolled with HSNZ or HENZ. Here's why:
I believe that the process of researching, thinking through, and compiling your exemption application is a valuable one, as it forces you to make decisions and be familiar enough with what you intend to do to be able to articulate it. However, in the case of families who will be using a prescribed curriculum such as ACE, most of the decisions are made for them; it's a matter of knowing how to interpret the diagnostic tests and compile the information as to what will be contained in the prescribed course of study. This can be daunting for a new ACE home educator, who will be in the process of completing parent training. Plus enrolled ACE families will be receiving ongoing support and guidance from their chosen support provider.
As I have used ACE for some of my kids for most of the past 25 years, I am very familiar with the entire programme, and have ready access to all the needed information.
If you are (or plan to be) an enrolled ACE user, and would like me to guide you through the process of getting started with ACE, and to prepare your application, I can do so. It will be a co-operative effort in that you will need to provide me with information about your family, the resources you have available, and your plans for the non-ACE subjects of your curriculum, as well as copies of the diagnostic test results your children have completed, and additional learning ideas you have for the core subjects. I will use this information to prepare a completely personalised application, which will also provide you with a clearly laid out plan for your first year of homeschooling.
Charges:
$125 for the first child's application (minus $10 discount for purchasing my guide which I ask you to do first, as you will need it to refer to)
$85 for each additional child's application completed simultaneously
Payment is made via my bank account.
To discuss this service, Contact Me
To get started, go HERE
Exemptions for families using other curricula:
For families who will be using other kinds of curricula or set resources, I can prepare an application for you if you will be using specific resources for the core subjects of English, Math, Science and Social Studies, where I can access sufficient and suitable information about what will be covered in those subjects. As above, this will also involve you providing me with the additional information I need in the other areas (I send you a document with questions). The educational plan will be entirely yours - my job is simply to assist you in writing it out in a clear manner.
Charges:
These are as above for ACE families, except that I reserve the right to charge for additional time spent over and above the usual time for an application at the rate of $25/hour. This rarely happens, but may do if there is considerable time needed to help you develop your program or to access resource information, or gather information from you.
To discuss this service, Contact Me
To get started, go HERE
Unschoolers or families with no core set curriculum:
I am unable to write applications for you, as by the time you have provided me with all the information about what you'll be doing in each subject area, you'll have practically written it yourself anyway! I recommend that you to write your own application using my guide, and then send it to me to review if you would like some feedback and support. In some instances I'm able to provide further assistance in developing the application, but that is decided case-by-case.
Refund Policy:
If a family requests and pays for my application writing service, then changes their mind, a full refund will be given only if work has not yet commenced. Otherwise, fees will be deducted for time spent @$25/hour (including time spent on phone calls, emails, collecting and reviewing information etc in preparation for writing), and a partial refund offered if applicable.
Is it ok to have help with an application?
Yes, so long as you honestly declare it in your application. Exemption applications are legal documents; in many different instances people hire experts to help them complete legal documents - lawyers, accountants, immigration specialists etc - and it is their right to do so. It is no different with exemption applications.
Just as with other people fulfilling the above roles, I do not invent content for families; I create personalised documents that contain information about the choices and plans that parents have made for their children's home education, based solely on the resources they have chosen and what they have shared with me. I ensure that enough information is included, and that it is clear, accurate and well presented.
Just as with other people fulfilling the above roles, I do not invent content for families; I create personalised documents that contain information about the choices and plans that parents have made for their children's home education, based solely on the resources they have chosen and what they have shared with me. I ensure that enough information is included, and that it is clear, accurate and well presented.
Support & Advocacy
Sometimes during the application process, a family will feel the need for specific support.
The most common scenario is being asked for more information, and not being sure how to respond. I can help by taking a look at what you already submitted, the questions you have been asked, and then discussing with you what is needed, and what your plans and intentions are, and how you might respond, by helping you understand what is being asked and how your original application may have been insufficient in these aspects.
If I reviewed your application already, and you are still asked for more information, then helping you with that is part of the service you already paid for, unless it turns into something much *bigger*. Typically, though, any further info you are asked for will be fairly minor and straight forward as we will have already discussed any areas of your application lacking sufficient information as part of the review process.
If I did not review your application, then my charge for providing assistance is $50, as I will essentially now be reviewing your application plus providing guidance and support as needed. Note: this fee may be waived in cases of genuine financial difficulty or other mitigating circumstances, as I do not want families to not be able to access this support if needed.
Other times when support is needed: I have also been involved in providing support in many different situations in the past, advocating for families as needed. These have included foster situations, appeals when an application is declined, families who have felt they have been treated unreasonably by the Ministry or other government departments, or families whose unusual situations bring additional complexity to the case. Whatever your situation, if you need support, Contact Me to discuss how I can help. My standard hourly rate is $25/hour, but there is some flexibility depending on circumstances.
The most common scenario is being asked for more information, and not being sure how to respond. I can help by taking a look at what you already submitted, the questions you have been asked, and then discussing with you what is needed, and what your plans and intentions are, and how you might respond, by helping you understand what is being asked and how your original application may have been insufficient in these aspects.
If I reviewed your application already, and you are still asked for more information, then helping you with that is part of the service you already paid for, unless it turns into something much *bigger*. Typically, though, any further info you are asked for will be fairly minor and straight forward as we will have already discussed any areas of your application lacking sufficient information as part of the review process.
If I did not review your application, then my charge for providing assistance is $50, as I will essentially now be reviewing your application plus providing guidance and support as needed. Note: this fee may be waived in cases of genuine financial difficulty or other mitigating circumstances, as I do not want families to not be able to access this support if needed.
Other times when support is needed: I have also been involved in providing support in many different situations in the past, advocating for families as needed. These have included foster situations, appeals when an application is declined, families who have felt they have been treated unreasonably by the Ministry or other government departments, or families whose unusual situations bring additional complexity to the case. Whatever your situation, if you need support, Contact Me to discuss how I can help. My standard hourly rate is $25/hour, but there is some flexibility depending on circumstances.
Book a Consultation!
If you are exploring your options, whether considering homeschooling, getting started, or much further down the track, you may have a lot of questions, or not know where to start. Or maybe you've been doing this a while and just need some fresh ideas and encouragement. Perhaps your circumstances have changed significantly, or your child's needs have, and you need to rethink things. Perhaps you'd just like to "talk to an expert". If you'd like to have a chat over the phone, I'm happy to help. Contact me to book a consultation. Charges: $15 per half hour session. It will be totally worth it! (If you have a lot of questions or need lots of ideas, I recommend you book for an hour).
Why I charge for services
Since finishing homeschooling my children 4 years ago, I have committed myself basically full-time to helping other families. The most significant part of the work I do is on a voluntary basis and has not been paid. I continue to work unpaid on behalf of home educators especially around things like improving relationships with government departments, advocating around policy and process affecting home educators, working to open doors to more opportunities for home educators, providing information about the law and other matters affecting home educators and so on. Many of the things listed above I have also done unpaid for a long time; I have slowly started charging for some of my services because life has got to the stage where either I stop doing this and get a salaried job, or I use my passion and expertise to help families like yours. So if you can afford to pay for my services, you are helping not only yourself but also families across NZ by enabling me to continue what I do. If you need help and genuinely can't afford to pay, do Contact Me to discuss. If you would like to support this work via a donation, please see the donation button information above.
"As Principal of the country’s largest and oldest home school support agency, I would heartily commend Cynthia’s services to anybody who is looking for assistance at any stage of their homeschooling journey. |
