CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL
ENROLMENT POLICY
PURSUANT TO SECTION 7 OF THE
EDUCATION ACT 1989
The Correspondence School
Enrolment Policy
This document explains who may be enrolled with The Correspondence School
("the School") from 1 February 2009 for government funded tuition.
Early Childhood Education
General
Children may be enrolled in a full-time Early Childhood Education (ECE) programme at the School where they are:
(a) New Zealand citizens or permanent residents or verified domestic students; and
(b) under the age of 6 (i.e. 5 years of age or under); and
(c) not enrolled in a primary school, or about to be enrolled within the first 2 weeks of February that year; and
(d) not enrolled for more than 2 sessions a week in a licensed and/or chartered ECE service; and
(e) within one of the following enrolment categories and fitting the criteria for a gateway where a vacancy is available.
A child ceases to be eligible for enrolment when age or changed circumstances mean that the gateway criteria under which they were enrolled are no longer met.
Priority
Children whose access to ECE is limited by their rural location and geographic isolation will normally be given first priority for enrolment.
Children approved by the School as eligible for entry but for whom a vacancy is not immediately available will have their names placed on a wait list. Wait-listed children will normally be admitted to the School in age order.
Enrolment Categories and Gateways
Enrolment Category Gateway Entry Criteria
Access Geographic isolation Child of a family whose geographic location prevents attendance at a licensed and/or chartered English language medium ECE service.
To qualify, the student's home must be:
(a) more than 6 kilometres from a licensed and/or chartered English language medium ECE service; or
(b) located behind a geographic barrier, preventing reasonable access to a licensed and/or chartered English language medium ECE service.
The School will establish entry criteria to ensure access by families with the highest level of need based on distance and accessibility.

Itinerancy Child of a family whose itinerancy requires a change of licensed and/or chartered ECE service each school term.
The minimum enrolment period is 6 months.
Parents/caregivers must provide, at the commencement of enrolment, an itinerary demonstrating that they will change location at least once per term and that each change in location will require a change of licensed and/or chartered ECE service. A written declaration to that effect will also be required.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the School will review these enrolments 6 monthly. For
this review, caregivers will provide a written declaration confirming that they continue to meet the requirements of this gateway.

Referral High health needs Child has a long-term illness or medical condition preventing their attending a licensed and/or chartered ECE service.
Caregivers must provide, each year, a medical certificate from a medical practitioner specialising in the condition preventing attendance.

Special development needs Child has special development needs such that no licensed and/or chartered ECE service able to meet their needs is available within a reasonable distance.
Caregivers must provide a Ministry of Education-
Special Education report detailing the nature
of the child's special development needs and immediate teaching needs. This report will include verification that no locally available service is able to meet the child's special development needs.

Special circumstances Child does not fit any ECE gateway, however may be admitted by the School's CEO - for example where:
(a) a sibling has a medical condition such as
a bone marrow transplant preventing, for reasons of cross-infection, the child attending a licensed and/or chartered ECE service, or
(b) the child's caregiver has a medical condition preventing attendance at a licensed and/or chartered ECE service.
Years 1-13 Enrolments
Full-time enrolments
General
Children may be enrolled in a full-time Primary or Secondary programme at the School where they are:
(a) New Zealand citizens or permanent residents or verified domestic students; and
(b) within one of the following enrolment categories and fitting the criteria for a gateway.
Unless otherwise stated:
(a) the minimum period of enrolment is 1 term; and
(b) the student's continued enrolment is subject to meeting the School's engagement and tuition requirements; and
(c) all enrolments are reviewed by the School on an annual basis or as specified for a specific category.
The student's eligibility ceases when changed circumstances mean that the gateway criteria under which they were enrolled are no longer met. Years 11-13 students whose circumstances change during term 3 of a year may remain enrolled until the end of the school year.
Enrolment Categories and Gateways
Enrolment Category Gateway Entry Criteria
Access Exceptional arts and sports performance Student is an elite athlete, dancer, musician, sports person or an outstanding actor or performer and their development programme precludes attendance at a regular school.
Enrolment applications require a letter of attestation from the formally constituted and recognised national body for the sport or art:
(a) attesting that the student's exceptional attributes mean that they are likely to either represent New Zealand or develop to the top of the field for their age-group; and
(b) confirming that the programme planned
for their development is appropriate and precludes attendance at a regular school; and
(c) advising the likely duration of enrolment; and
(d) providing an educational profile from the student's previous school.
Geographic isolation Student is unable to attend a neighbouring school because of its distance or inaccessibility from their home.
To qualify, the student's home or nearest school bus route must be:
(a) more than 3.2 kilometres distant, increasing to 4.8 kilometres if the student is over
10 years of age; or
(b) located behind a geographic barrier preventing reasonable access to a school or school bus route.
The Ministry of Education's School Transport Service Agents are the confirming agencies.
Itinerancy Student would otherwise need to change schools each term because caregivers are itinerant.
The minimum enrolment period is 6 months.
Parents/caregivers must provide, at the commencement of enrolment, an itinerary demonstrating that they will change location at least once per term and that each change in location will require a change of school. A written declaration to that effect will also be required.
The School's CEO will review these enrolments 6-monthly. For this review, caregivers will provide a written declaration confirming that they continue to meet the requirements of this gateway.
Young parents Student is pregnant or has the primary care responsibility for a child.
A student who is pregnant or a young parent, and otherwise eligible for a free place in a state or state integrated school, may self-enrol. They may also be referred by their current or former school, caregivers, family or whanau.
Enrolment applications for pregnant students must be supported by a midwife's or medical certificate and where appropriate include an educational report from the student's current school or school previously attended.
Where for confidentiality reasons this educational report cannot be obtained, the School will manage this directly with the student, their caregivers, family or whanau.
After the birth, the student may stay on the School's roll until the end of the school year.
Students enrolled under this gateway who have the primary care responsibility for their child may remain enrolled as a full-time student up to and including the end of the school year in which the student turns 19 years of age.
Overseas students New Zealand citizens or New Zealand permanent residents who have lived in New Zealand for 2 years or more, who will be absent from
New Zealand for at least 6 months and whose children need to continue education while overseas may be enrolled if they meet the criteria for Group A or for Group B.
The initial application for enrolment must be made within 12 months of the departure of the family from New Zealand.
Group A
I. Military and diplomatic personnel; and others employed by the New Zealand Government whose duties take them overseas; or
II. New Zealand missionaries serving in overseas mission fields; or
III. University staff and others on sabbatical leave; or
IV. Teachers recruited on inter-governmental, or non-governmental organisation arrangements for service overseas.
Parents/caregivers must make a written declaration that they meet the following criteria for such students to be enrolled:
? No employer subsidy towards the education of the student is provided; and
? they intend to return to New Zealand on completion of the service overseas; and
? there is no suitable local education service available.
The parent/caregiver's employer must also verify all 3 criteria. There is no maximum period of enrolment for these categories.
Group B
Travelling or living overseas and intend returning to New Zealand and whose children will be
either continuing their education within the
New Zealand system or be taking up employment in New Zealand.
Parents/caregivers need to show for students in Group B that they:
? are going to non English speaking countries where a suitable or comparable New Zealand education system is not available; and require full-time enrolment as they are unable to obtain admission to a suitable school locally; or
? are candidates for New Zealand national qualifications for which local schools do not cater; or
? require enrolment in specific subjects with the School as they have transferred to an overseas school where New Zealand national qualification subjects taken previously are not available; or
? are in years 9-10 at the time of departure from New Zealand, and cannot obtain tuition in subjects they wish to advance to New Zealand national qualification level and no suitable subject is available at the school attended.
Parents/caregivers must make a written declaration that they meet the following criteria for such students to be enrolled:
? No employer subsidy towards the education of the student is provided; and
? there is no suitable local education service available; and
? declare that they intend returning to
New Zealand.
Three years is the maximum total period of enrolment for any one student.
Referral Alienation Student is alienated from the education system.
An alienated student is one who local schools are unwilling to enrol or who is unwilling to attend the local schools.
The Ministry of Education is the referral agency and the Ministry's local office manager or regional office Student Support Manager will approve the enrolment.
The referral letter must:
(a) clearly state the arrangements made to supervise the student's study with the School; and
(b) where available, be accompanied by an educational profile.
These enrolments will be reviewed by the School and the Ministry of Education as agreed on enrolment. The review purpose is to ascertain whether a face-to-face schooling option is available and appropriate.
Child, Youth and Family Student is in the custody and/or guardianship of the Child, Youth and Family (CYF).
CYF are the referral agency and all such enrolments require the prior approval of a CYF practice or service delivery unit manager.
The referral letter must:
(a) specify that the student is in CYF custody or guardianship and the likely duration of the enrolment; and
(b) clearly state the supervision arrangements for the student's study with the School; and
(c) provide, where available, an educational profile.
These enrolments will be reviewed by the School and CYF as agreed on enrolment. The review purpose is to ascertain whether a face-to-face schooling option is available and appropriate.
Corrections Student is in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
The Department of Corrections is the referral agency and enrolments will be through an agency manager.
Applications need to specify the likely duration
of the enrolment and identify the supervision arrangements. Where available, they should be supported by an educational profile.
Students enrolled under this gateway may remain enrolled up to and including the end of the school year in which the student turns 19 years of age.
Exclusion or expulsion Student is under 16 years of age and excluded from school, or over 16 years of age and expelled.
The Ministry of Education is the referral agency and the Ministry's local office manager or regional office Student Support Manager will approve the enrolment.
The referral letter must:
(a) clearly state the supervision arrangements for the student's study with the School; and
(b) provide, where available, an educational profile.
These enrolments will be reviewed by the School and the Ministry of Education as agreed on enrolment. The review purpose is to ascertain whether a face-to-face schooling option is available and appropriate.
Psychological or psycho-social grounds Student has assessed psychological or psycho-social needs.
Ministry of Education, Special Education ("Special Education") is the referral agency and a Special Education psychologist must approve all applications.
The basis of these applications must be in the first instance that the enrolment is to meet the assessed psychological or psycho-social needs of the student.
Enrolment on psychological grounds
The psychological grounds must reside within the individual student and be of sufficient severity to prevent or seriously impede the student from attending a neighbouring school.
Enrolment on psycho-social grounds
The psychological grounds must reside within the individual student. The social grounds must reside within the student's relationships in the wider environment, including their family, whanau and school. While neither factor on its own might be sufficient, in tandem, there will be good reason for an enrolment recommendation.
A statement indicating how the psychological or psycho-social issues are to be addressed must support all enrolment applications. This statement is to assure the School that the issues around the young person are being appropriately managed and addressed while the student is enrolled.
This statement will outline the supervision arrangements made for the student and specify when the enrolment is to be reviewed by Special Education. The statement will be accompanied by an educational profile outlining the learning programme that the student requires.
Enrolments will be reviewed by the School and Special Education as agreed on enrolment.
Dual Enrolments
General
Children may be enrolled in a dual Primary or Secondary programme at the School where they are:
(a) New Zealand citizens or permanent residents or verified domestic students; and
(b) within one of the following enrolment categories and fitting the criteria for a gateway.
Unless otherwise stated:
(a) the minimum period of enrolment is 1 term; and
(b) all enrolments, except for Regional Health School enrolments, cease automatically at the end of each school year; and
(c) the enrolling school retains responsibility for the pastoral care and educational outcomes of the students enrolled; and
(d) all dual enrolments are subject to a Service Level Agreement (SLA) being in place between the enrolling school and the School. The SLA defines the tuition, supervision and support responsibilities of both parties and the circumstances in which the enrolment may be terminated; and
(e) the maximum number of subjects a student may enrol for is 2, unless otherwise specified.
Enrolment categories and gateways
Enrolment Category Gateway Entry Criteria
Curriculum Adaptation Gifted and talented
State, state integrated schools and government institutions. YEARS 1-8
Year 1-8 students who are gifted and talented and whose home school is unable to provide
the appropriate curriculum enrichment and acceleration.
Each student will be enrolled at the request of the principal of the home school and at the discretion of the CEO of the School.
Enrolments for individual students of exceptional ability will only be accepted provided that:
(a) PAT, TOSCA, AsTTle or equivalent assessments support that the student is exceptionally able and in the top 5% of
their age group; and
(b) evidence provided by the home school supports that the programme is essential to the student's individual education plan and is able to be appropriately supervised and integrated.
Schools making such enrolments are expected
to undertake a programme of development enhancing their ability to provide similar enrichment programmes.
YEARS 9-13
Student is gifted and studying an extra subject/s provided the home school takes responsibility for supervision.
For exceptional and individual students only,
at the request of the principal of the enrolled school and at the discretion of the CEO of
the School.
PAT, TOSCA, AsTTle or equivalent results must be used to support the application.
Special education needs
State, and state integrated (other than special schools), independent schools and government institutions. YEARS 1-8
Year 1-8 students whose home school is unable to provide the specialist programming or curriculum adaptation appropriate to the student's assessed special education needs.
At the discretion of the School's CEO, enrolments will be accepted where:
(a) the programme developed in association with the School contributes to:
? overcoming barriers to achievement as identified through the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP); and
? the inclusion of the student in the home school; and
(b) the application includes a statement by the home school on the assistance already provided for the student; and
(c) the IEP is not more than 6 months old at the time of enrolment at the School; and
(d) the student has high health needs that prevent attendance at a neighbouring school.
Enrolling schools are expected to undertake a programme of development leading to the school being able to independently provide for the student's needs.
Applications to re-enrol students for a successive year are subject to the School CEO's approval.
Reapplications must identify:
(a) the gains made against the student's IEP from the earlier enrolment; and
(b) the specific achievement and inclusion goals the enrolling school is seeking from
a further enrolment.
Special education needs
State, state integrated Special Schools and government institutions. Special Schools and government institutions
In addition to the above criteria, dual enrolment applications for year 1-13 students from Special Schools and Government Institutions will only be considered on clear evidence that the enrolment is essential to the student's learning circumstances; and
(a) the special school or government institution does not have the capability to meet the learning needs identified; and
(b) the capability required is beyond what could reasonably be expected of the special school.
Applications must be supported by:
(a) a Section 9 Agreement for enrolment in the Special School; and
(b) a current IEP (no more than 6 months old).
The duration of the enrolment is to be specified in the student's IEP.
Enrolments will be reviewed annually to confirm their appropriateness and to identify the steps that the Special School or government institution is taking to raise its capability to meet the needs of the dually enrolled student.
Special Needs (Special Circumstances)
State, state integrated and registered independent schools and government institutions. Year 9-13 students whose additional educational needs place them at risk of non achievement and whose home school or government institution
is unable to provide the appropriate specialist programming or curriculum adaptation.
Enrolments for reasons of timetable clash are excluded as are New Zealand students on overseas cultural exchange programmes.
Some examples of enrolments that may be approved are:
(a) Student has specific learning difficulties requiring remedial teaching. The student must be two or more years below their chronological age in any of the core curriculum areas and clear evidence must be provided that the programme is essential to their circumstances. This is not intended
to provide for group enrolments.
(b) Student is at risk of exclusion or expulsion, or who may otherwise qualify for full-time enrolments through the psychological or psycho-social gateway. The enrolment is intended to provide for the student's reintegration into a local school. Documentation must show that the home school, caregivers and other stakeholders (e.g. Special Education) support the purpose of the application.
(c) Student has a demonstrated family or cultural affinity with a particular ethnic group and requires tuition in that language, including Maori where that language is not offered by their home school.
(d) Student attends an Alternative Education or Activity Centre and may enrol for up to
4 subjects.
(e) Student attends a Teen Parent Unit (TPU) or may otherwise qualify for full-time enrolment through the Young Parent gateway. The enrolment is intended to provide for the student's continuance at a local school or TPU. Enrolment may be requested in up to 4 subjects.
(f) Student has high health needs that prevent attendance at a neighbouring school.
(g) Regional Health Schools:
The Regional Health Schools (RHS) are the referral agency and the student must first be on a RHS roll.
At the request of the RHS principal,
the student may be enrolled with the School for part or their entire learning programme.
Each enrolment application requires an educational plan prepared by the RHS detailing the learning outcomes sought and advising review, reporting and supervision arrangements.
RHS enrolments may continue into the next school year.
(h) Overseas students on cultural exchanges in New Zealand may be enrolled in subjects required when they return to their home school.
Curriculum extension Emergency staff vacancy
State, state integrated and registered independent schools. School has an emergency staff vacancy and no suitable applicants are available.
The School's CEO may approve year 1-13 class enrolments as an emergency measure and for a defined time period subject to the enrolling school:
(a) confirming that it is continuing to advertise the vacancy; and
(b) organising classes so that a minimum number of students are enrolled; and
(c) providing appropriate supervision and resources, including text books; and
(d) for year 1-8 classes confirming that Emergency Staffing Scheme assistance is not available.
Approved enrolments will be for a minimum of four weeks and on a term-by-term basis.
Small senior classes
State, state integrated schools, registered independent schools and government institutions. School has only a small number of students studying a subject at years 12 or 13 level.
The maximum number of students able to be enrolled in one subject is six. Variation to meet the needs of small and rural schools is at the discretion of the School's CEO.
Subject not available
State, state integrated schools, registered independent schools and government institutions. School is unable to offer a year 9-13 subject.
This gateway is for small schools. Its purpose
is to enable small schools to offer a broader and more balanced curriculum and entitlement ceases once the year 9-13 roll exceeds 600.
A school may make a case for discretion to the School's CEO if their year 9-13 roll exceeds this limit.
Assistance will not normally be available for more than four subjects per student.
Transferring students
State, state integrated schools, registered independent schools and government institutions. Student:
(a) has transferred to a school where a year
9-13 subject previously taken is not available.
The subject must be being taken at the time of transfer.
Short, modular and "taster" courses do not qualify.
The maximum period of enrolment is for the remainder of the current school year.
Or
(b) is returning to a local school from a Regional Health School and wishes to continue subjects studied while at the RHS.
This is in situations where the student's health circumstances prevent full participation in school activities and is for the purpose of achieving their re-integration in the educative process. The maximum period of enrolment is for the remainder of the current school year.
Or
(c) is a year 7-8 student who has transferred from a Maori Medium school to a school unable to provide Maori language tuition. The student may be enrolled for Te Reo Maori.
Te Reo
State and state integrated schools. This gateway is to support Te Reo Maori.
The principal of a Kura Kaupapa Maori or a designated Character School where Te Reo is the first language, or the principal of a school with unit offering level 1 immersion, may apply to the Ministry of Education to enrol senior primary
students, i.e. those in years 7 and 8, in national qualification level Te Reo Maori programmes.
Technology
State and state integrated schools. This gateway is for isolated schools with no access to year 7 and 8 technology tuition.
The principal may apply to the Ministry of Education for approval to enrol their year 7-8 students with the School for technology tuition.
Adult Enrolments
Adult Students
Students may be enrolled with the School, as an adult student, where they are:
(a) a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident or verified domestic student; and
(b) resident in New Zealand
Adults Young adult Student is 16 or over and is not enrolled at a school.
Students enrolled under this gateway may remain enrolled up to, and including the end of the school year in which the student turns 19 years of age.
Adult Adult students may be enrolled for an administration fee.
An adult for the purposes of enrolment at the School is:
(a) turning 20 years of age during the year of enrolment, or older; and
(b) not attending a school full-time.
Students enrolled under this gateway may remain enrolled until all assessments for the subject area for which they are enrolled are complete or for
12 calendar months, which ever is the sooner.
The availability of courses offered by the School may be restricted for this enrolment category.