This gateway is for children who are unable to attend a licensed and/or chartered English or Māori medium ECE service because of distance or inaccessibility from their home.

To qualify, the nearest licensed and/or chartered service must be:

1. more than six kilometres away from the child’s home; or
2. located behind a geographic barrier (e.g. an un-bridged river) that prevents reasonable access to the service.

Te Kura will apply prioritisation criteria to ensure access by families with the highest level of need based on distance and accessibility.

This gateway is for children of families whose itinerancy requires a change of licensed and/or chartered ECE service each school term.

The minimum enrolment period is six 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.

Te Kura will review these enrolments every six months. For this review, caregivers will provide a written declaration confirming that they continue to meet the requirements of this gateway. Caregivers will also provide an updated itinerary to demonstrate continued eligibility.

This gateway is for children with 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, or a referral letter from a general practitioner to a specialist.

This gateway is for children who do not meet the criteria for any other ECE gateway but may be enrolled by Te Kura because of special circumstances. Examples of special circumstances include cases where:

1. 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;
2. the child’s caregiver has a medical condition preventing attendance at a licensed and/or chartered ECE service; or
3. other special circumstances, as discussed by Te Kura and a Ministry of Education manager.

This gateway is for children temporarily travelling or residing overseas who cannot otherwise access a local ECE service. Enrolments through this gateway are at the discretion of Te Kura and children residing in New Zealand will be given priority over overseas enrolments.

Learning support needs

This gateway is for children with learning support needs that are unable to be met by a licensed and/or chartered ECE service within a reasonable distance or travel time from their home.

Caregivers must provide a Ministry of Education – Learning Support report detailing the nature of the child’s learning support and immediate teaching needs. This report will include verification that no locally available service is able to meet the child’s learning support needs.

Government funded

Special circumstances - Ministry of Education referral

This gateway is for children who do not meet the criteria for any other ECE gateway. Referrals through this gateway are at the discretion of the Ministry of Education.

Referrals much be signed off by a Ministry of Education Manager who must be satisfied that:

1. the child’s family/whānau face multiple barriers (e.g., transport and cultural barriers) in accessing a local face-to-face ECE service that meets their needs; and/or
2. there is a high probability that without access to Te Kura, the child will have no, or less than optimal, access to ECE.

The Ministry referral letter must:

1. clearly state how the child’s enrolment in Te Kura meets these criteria; and
2. set a date for Ministry review to ascertain whether the enrolment in ECE by distance education is still required for the child.

Government funded

Young adult

This gateway is for students who are 16 to 19 years of age and are not attending a school full-time. If a student is attending a youth guarantee funded course, or a fees-free tertiary course, they will be ineligible to enrol through this gateway.

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.

Government funded

Adult

This gateway is for adult students who are 20 years of age or over during the year of enrolment and are not attending a school full-time.

Adult students will be charged a tuition administration fee (excluding students enrolled by the Department of Corrections).

The course of study in which the adult student is enrolled must assist the student to reach the following minimum goals:

1. a NZQA qualification; or
2. NCEA Level 1.

Students enrolled under this gateway may remain enrolled until all assessments for the courses for which they are enrolled are complete or until the end of the calendar year in which they were enrolled, whichever is the sooner.

Government funded

Exceptional arts or sports performance

This gateway is for students who are an elite athlete, dancer, musician, sports person or an outstanding actor or performer whose development programme precludes attendance at a reasonably convenient school.

Enrolment applications require a letter of attestation from the formally constituted and recognised national body for the activity or from organisations designated by the national body to identify exceptional arts or sports students:

1. 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;
2. confirming that the programme planned for their development is appropriate and precludes attendance at a reasonably convenient school;
3. advising the likely duration of enrolment; and
4. providing an educational profile from the student’s previous school.

Government funded

Geographic isolation

This gateway is for students who are unable to attend a reasonably convenient school because of its distance or inaccessibility from their home.

To qualify, the student’s nearest school for their age, gender, school bus route, public transport and in their preference of English or Māori medium, must be:

1. more than 3.0 kilometres walking distance from their door for students in Years 1–8, increasing to 4.8 kilometres walking distance for students in Year 9 or above (private road distance does not count); or
2. located behind a geographic barrier preventing reasonable access to a school, suitable public transport or school bus route.

The Ministry of Education’s School Transport Service Agents are the distance confirming agencies.

Government funded

Itinerancy

This gateway is for students who would otherwise need to change schools each term because caregivers are itinerant. The minimum enrolment period is six 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.

Children supported in a refuge environment are classified an “itinerant” as their living arrangements are tentative.

Te Kura will review these enrolments six-monthly and share any information about the status of students with the relevant Ministry of Education local office. For this review, caregivers will provide a written declaration confirming that they continue to meet the requirements of this gateway and an updated itinerary. Te Kura may request additional supporting documentation (e.g., from an employer) to confirm itinerancy.

Government funded

Young parents

This gateway is for students who are pregnant or whose primary care responsibility for a child prevents school attendance.

A student who is pregnant or a young parent, and otherwise eligible for free enrolment and free education in a State school, may self-enrol. They may also be referred by a school, caregivers, family or whānau.

Enrolment applications for pregnant students must be supported by a medical certificate, a certificate or letter from a midwife, or a letter from Work and Income or Ministry of Social Development, and where appropriate include an educational report from the student’s current or previously attended school. Where, for confidentiality reasons, this educational report cannot be obtained, Te Kura will manage this directly with the student, their caregivers, family or whānau. After the birth, the student may stay on the Te Kura 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.

Government funded

Overseas domestic students (government funded)

This gateway is for overseas domestic students (New Zealand citizens or permanent residents) of compulsory schooling age. Enrolment through this gateway is available for students who meet the following criteria:

1. Continuity: Domestic students who are temporarily living or travelling overseas whose family can prove their intention to return within two years; or
2. Access: Domestic students who are living or travelling overseas whose family cannot necessarily prove their intention to return / are going for more than two years but can prove that:
   1. there is not (or is no longer) a suitable or comparable option for education in their country of residence; or
   2. they are unable to obtain admission to a local school / would be impoverished if they had to pay fees; or
   3. they are a candidate for NZ Qualifications and intend to continue to an education pathway at a NZ tertiary institution.

Parents/guardians are required to make a written declaration in support of the students application stating:

1. details of their intention to return to live in New Zealand;
2. that no employer subsidy towards the education of the student is provided; and
3. how the student meets the criteria listed above.

New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who have permanently emigrated overseas and do not intend to return to New Zealand to live are not eligible to enrol with Te Kura through this gateway.

Usually, applications should be submitted within 12 months of departure from New Zealand and students should have been resident in New Zealand for two or more consecutive years prior to their initial application. However, it is permissible to apply for enrolment outside of these time limits in situations where circumstances have significantly changed.

Government funded

Overseas domestic students (fee-paying)

This gateway is for domestic students who:

1. are aged 16 or over; and
2. are not currently resident in New Zealand; and
3. do not meet the entry criteria for the government funded overseas domestic students gateway.

Fee-paying; student charged

Overseas international students

This gateway is for international students who:

1. are not currently resident in New Zealand;
2. not studying NCEA level qualifications.

Fee-paying; student charged

Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children

For students who are in the custody and/or guardianship of Oranga Tamariki and cannot attend a local school.

Oranga Tamariki are the referral agency and all such enrolments require the approval of a manager. The Oranga Tamariki referral letter must:

1. clearly state the supervision arrangements for the student’s study with Te Kura;
2. nominate an Oranga Tamariki contact person;
3. provide an educational profile (where available), and the name of the previous school; and
4. set a review period for ascertaining whether a face-to-face schooling option is available and appropriate.

Government funded

Corrections

For students who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections (“Corrections”).

Corrections is the referral agency and enrolments will be through a department 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.

Government funded

Non-enrolled, excluded or expelled

For students who are non-enrolled, excluded or expelled.

The Ministry of Education is the referral agency and all referrals at its discretion must be signed-off by a Ministry manager.

The Ministry referral letter must:

1. clearly state the educationally appropriate supervision arrangements for the student’s study with Te Kura;
2. provide an educational profile (where available), and the name of the previous school;
3. confirm consideration of how a pastoral care and/or learning support relationship with a reasonably convenient local school might be maintained while the student is enrolled with Te Kura; and
4. set a review period for ascertaining whether a face-to-face schooling option is either still unavailable or inappropriate.

Non-enrolled

Student is under 16 years of age and is non-enrolled and the local schools are unable to meet the student’s needs.

Excluded/expelled

Student is under 16 years of age and excluded from school, or is over 16 years of age and expelled, and the local schools are unable to meet the student’s needs.

Government funded

Psychological or psycho-social grounds

Psychological/psycho-social grounds

Student has assessed psychological or psycho-social needs verified by a Ministry of Education psychologist requiring Te Kura enrolment to prevent disengagement. To be verified, all referrals must be signed off by a Ministry manager.

The Ministry referral letter must:

1. clearly state the supervision arrangements for the student’s study with Te Kura;
2. provide an educational profile (where available), and the name of the previous school;
3. include a statement from a Ministry of Education psychologist indicating how the psychological or psycho-social issues are to be addressed, with the goal of reintegrating back to mainstream education where appropriate;
4. confirm consideration of how a pastoral care and/or learning support relationship with a reasonably convenient local school might be maintained while the student is enrolled with Te Kura; and
5. set a review period for the enrolment.

Psychological grounds

The psychological grounds must be those of the individual student and be of sufficient severity to prevent the student from attending a reasonably convenient school.

Psycho-social grounds

The psychological grounds must be those of the individual student. The social grounds must be within the student’s relationships in their wider environment, including their family, whānau and school.

While neither factor on its own might be sufficient, in tandem there is good reason for an enrolment recommendation.

Government funded

All

All state and state-integrated schools, and the private schools listed below, whose registration covers the year group in question, and specialist institutions.

Note: This category excludes home-educated students.

Private Schools

Government funded access will be retained for the private schools listed below due to the schools’ character and role in supporting vulnerable children and young people. These private schools are:

1. Ambury Park Centre;
2. Odyssey House; and
3. Hohepa School.

Regional Health School

The Northern, Central and Southern Regional Health Schools.

Specialist schools

All state specialist schools.

Kūra kaupapa Māori

A school designated as a Kūra kaupapa Māori under section 201 of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Designated character school

A school designated under section 204 of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Māori Medium School or unit

A school or unit where Level 1 and 2 Te Reo Māori is the principal language of instruction.

Attached unit

Any Teen Parent Unit, Activity Centre or Alternative Education programme that is the responsibility of a Board of Trustees of a state or state-integrated school.

Specialist institutions

The following Oranga Tamariki contracted Care and Protection and/or Youth Justice Residences:

1. Epuni Education Programme (MoE No. 4934)
2. CLS Residential Youth Justice Education Programme (MoE No. 5570) Te Poutama Arahi Rangatahi Education (MoE No. 4930)
3. Kingslea School (MoE No. 518)
4. Central Regional Health School (for Palmerston North Care and Protection Unit) (MoE No. 1630).

Home education students

Students who are holders of a long-term exemption from enrolment under section 38 of the Education and Training Act 2020.

Realm Country Schools

Realm country citizens who are enrolled in state schools in the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau.

Year 1–15 students

Open tuition

State and state-integrated schools

This gateway is for domestic students and international students who:

1. are currently resident in New Zealand; and
2. enrolled in a state or state-integrated school; and
3. are not eligible for any government-funded dual tuition gateway; or
4. are eligible for a government-funded dual tuition gateway but are taking additional courses above the maximum course limit of that gateway.

None

Fee-paying; school charged

Open tuition

Private schools

This gateway is for domestic students and international students who:

1. are currently resident in New Zealand; and
2. enrolled in a private school; and
3. are not eligible for any government funded dual tuition gateway; or
4. are eligible for a government funded dual tuition gateway but are taking additional courses above the maximum course limit of that gateway.

None

Fee-paying; student charged

Open tuition

Home-educated students

This gateway is for students who have been granted a long-term exemption from enrolment under section 38 of the Education and Training Act 2020 (a home education exemption).

Tuition applications require confirmation of the long-term exemption from enrolment.

None

Fee-paying; student charged

Year 1–15 students

Regional Health School

Regional Health Schools

This gateway is for students who are enrolled with a Regional Health School (RHS) and who require access to subjects that the RHS cannot provide in order to maintain continuity of their learning programme.

At the request of an RHS principal, a student already enrolled with the RHS may receive tuition for all or part of their learning programme. Subjects are limited to those offered by the student’s enrolling school.

The RHS must support each request with an educational plan detailing the learning outcomes sought, confirming that the student has appropriate supervision and advising the reporting and review arrangements for the student’s learning programme.

None

Government funded

Learning support needs

All (except specialist schools and specialist institutions)

For students whose school is unable to provide the specialist programming or curriculum adaptation appropriate to their assessed learning support needs.

At the discretion of Te Kura, dual tuition applications will be accepted where the programme developed in association with Te Kura, contributes to:

1. overcoming barriers to achievement as identified through the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP); and
2. the inclusion of the student in the registering school.

Te Kura will discuss applications and reapplications with a Ministry of Education manager.

Applications must be supported by a current IEP less than six months old and a statement by the school or institution on the learning support assistance already provided to the student.

Schools receiving this supplementary dual tuition support are expected to undertake a programme of development leading to the school being able to independently provide the specialist programme or curriculum adaptation required.

Reapplications for a successive year are subject to Te Kura’s discretion and must identify the:

1. progress against the student’s IEP from the earlier dual tuition; and
2. the further achievement and inclusion goals sought.

Up to 75% of learning programme

Government funded

Gifted

All

This gateway is for students who have exceptional academic, creative, social, cultural and/or physical abilities and where the registering school is unable to provide the curriculum enrichment and acceleration required to develop the student’s abilities.

Applications must be supported by a current IEP less than six months old (which may be developed with Te Kura in anticipation of an application) that addresses how the student’s cognitive, creative, social, emotional and cultural needs will be met.

The registering school must provide evidence that the student is exceptionally able in the subject, including two or more of the following:

1. a nomination from either the student, their parents/whānau, peers, or community;
2. a teacher nomination using an observation tool designed for identifying gifted learners;
3. a portfolio of the student’s work;
4. PAT, e-asTTle or equivalent assessment results; or
5. a report from a qualified educational or clinical psychologist.

The registering school must substantiate that:

1. the dual tuition is essential to the student’s learning programme;
2. it can appropriately supervise and integrate the tuition; and
3. it is undertaking a programme of development to enhance their ability to provide similar enrichment and extension programmes

2

Government funded

Specialist schools and specialist institutions

Specialist schools and specialist institutions

For students whose specialist school or specialist institution is unable to provide the specialist programming or curriculum adaptation appropriate to their assessed learning support needs.

At the discretion of Te Kura, supplementary dual tuition applications can be accepted where it is evident that the:

1. dual tuition is essential to the student’s learning circumstances;
2. the specialist school or institution does not have the capability to meet the learning needs identified; and
3. the capability required is beyond what could reasonably be expected of the specialist school or institution.

Te Kura will discuss applications with a Ministry of Education manager.

Applications must be supported by a current IEP less than six months old. The IEP is to specify the required tuition duration.

All dual tuition arrangements are to be reviewed annually to confirm appropriateness and to identify the steps that the specialist school or institution is taking to raise its capability to meet the needs of the student concerned.

2

Government funded

Year 7–15 students

Reintegration

All

This gateway is available to support the reintegration of a student into a local school.

Registration through this gateway is at the discretion of Te Kura. Supporting documentation must show that the school, caregivers and other stakeholders (e.g., Ministry of Education) support the purpose of the supplementary dual tuition and that the school can appropriately supervise and support the dual tuition.

4

Government funded

Year 1–15 students

Emergency staff vacancy

All

Where a school has an emergency staff vacancy and no suitable applicants are available.

Te Kura may approve Year 1–15 class dual tuition as an emergency measure subject to the registering school:

1. confirming that it is continuing to advertise the vacancy;
2. organising classes so that a minimum number of students are receiving dual tuition;
3. providing appropriate supervision and resources, including textbooks; and
4. for Year 1–8 classes, confirming that Emergency Staffing Scheme assistance is not available.

Approvals may be granted for a minimum of four weeks and for a maximum of one school term. Approvals can be repeated on a term-by-term basis at the discretion of Te Kura, subject to the criteria above. Schools will be asked to provide evidence that they continue to meet the criteria as part of the approval process.

Te Kura will discuss applications with a Ministry of Education manager.

As approved on application / reapplication

Government funded

School Emergency

All

Where a community has suffered a natural disaster or other emergency which has impacted on the school’s ability to provide education to its students for a significant period of time (as deemed by the Secretary for Education).

Enrolment through this gateway is to be approved by the Secretary for Education.

As approved by Secretary for Education at time of emergency response

Government funded

Realm country schools

Realm country schools

This gateway is for Realm country students whose school is unable to provide access to subjects.

Registration through this gateway is at the discretion of Te Kura.

As approved on application

Government funded

Year 7–8 students

Technology

All

This dual tuition gateway is for geographically isolated schools with no access to Year 7–8 technology tuition.

The principal may apply to the Ministry of Education, through a Ministry manager, for approval to register the school’s Year 7–8 students with Te Kura for technology tuition.

1

Government funded

Te Reo

All

A principal may apply to the Ministry of Education, through a Ministry manager, to register Year 7–8 students for dual tuition at all levels of Te Reo Māori. Students may also register for a second subject within the Kaupapa Māori learning area.

2

Government funded

Year 9–15 students

Subject not available

All

School is unable to offer a Year 9–15 subject

This gateway is to enable schools with a Year 9–15 roll of less than 600 (excluding international fee-paying students) at the time of application to offer a broader and more balanced curriculum.

4

Government funded

Cultural exchange

Student is on an approved cultural exchange in New Zealand and requires subjects on return to the country that they are from that are not available from the registering school.

2

Government funded

Student transfer

For students who have transferred from another school during that year. The maximum period of dual tuition is for the remainder of the school year.

2

Government funded

Cultural affinity

Student has a demonstrated family or cultural affinity with an ethnic group and requires tuition in that language.

1

Government funded

Attached units

Activity Centres, Alternative Education and TPUs

Student is attending an Activity Centre, Teen Parent Unit or Alternative Education placement and the unit is unable to offer a subject.

4

Government funded

Summer School

All

This gateway is to enable short-term enrolments over the summer break between Terms 4 and 1 for students who need to earn additional credits or specific internal standards to complete an NCEA Level.

Students may register for a maximum of 12 credits at any one time through this gateway.

This gateway is limited to 1000 students per year.

12 credits

Government funded

Year 11–15 students

All

Small senior classes

School has only a small number of students studying the subject at Years 11–15 levels.

The maximum number of students able to be registered for tuition in any subject level is six per school. Te Kura has the discretion to vary this limit to meet the needs of rural schools.

2

Government funded