Grade R is no longer “optional” - How to Homeschool

Under the South African Schools Act (as amended), all learners must be registered for Grade R by the first day of school in the year in which they turn 6. They must either be enrolled in a registered public or independent school or registered for home education. 

For homeschool families, that means you need to register with your provincial education department (PED).

You’ll find the forms to do that on the Department of Basic Education’s home education page. (https://www.education.gov.za/Programmes/HomeEducation.aspx)

Once you have completed the form and gathered the necessary documents you will need to sign the form. By signing you are declaring that you have read and understood the home education section of the BELA Act, and the Policy on Home Education.  You also undertake to arrange for your child to be assessed at the end of the phase.

“But I’m worried about signing the form…”

You’re not alone. Some home schoolers are uneasy about signing a form where the wording makes them feel that they are making commitments that they do not understand, especially as it is not clear when end-of-phase assessment will take place and the standard against which it will be conducted is not clear.

This is likely not to be a major concern for parents strictly following the National Curriculum Statement/CAPS but others may be concerned.

If you’re unsure what you’re committing to it’s better not to guess and not to try and register without support. If you want legal and practical backup from South Africa’s largest home education organisation contact the Pestalozzi Trust. They’ve helped over 3000 home schoolers register. You can join here:

They help families understand the process, respond to provincial education department demands, and navigate the real admin realities.

If homeschooling (i.e., schooling at home) is not your route, and you are enrolling your child in any other form of educational institution. Confirm that the institution you are enrolling your child in is properly registered with the province. Check that it has an EMIS (Education Management Information System) in most of SA, or a CEMIS (Centralised Education Management Information System) in the Cape.

Many excellent independent micro-schools (IMS) are unregistered (and LearnFree has worked and is working to find a registration path for them) but parents should be fully informed of what the status of the place they are entrusting with their child’s future is.

It is being reported that learners transitioning back into public schools from unregistered institutions are having their assessments rejected and being required to repeat grades.

When to register

There is no cut-off date, set out in law, by which you have to register just as long as you have submitted your form before the first school day of the year in which your child turns six.

If the provincial education department (PED) doesn’t approve or decline your application within 60 days of the first school day of the year you are applying for, your child will be “deemed approved” for home education. Keep you proof of application, though. If you fear a rejection, join the Pestalozzi Trust before you apply.

The Policy on Home Education which is not law, and which needs to be changed to correspond to the new Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA Act) states that you should register before September of the year before your child starts home education. So if your child is going to start home education in 2027 then you need to register before September 2026.

Provincial education departments vary this from time to time, so you needn’t be too concerned about the precise date, any time from August through to the first day of the next school year is usually fine, but follow the policy date and register before September if you can.

“I didn’t know about this and my child is 6 now?”

Then don’t delay, register today – well, really, register as soon as possible, get the forms and start compiling the documentation and send you application in. If you don’t receive an approval or rejection you will be deemed approved after 60 days (keep your proof of submission). One last plug for the Pestalozzi Trust, they do assist their members by checking their registration forms so join them for that service.

Your child needs to be registered for Grade R, but it also doesn’t need to be a stressful one. If homeschooling is your route, get your forms in early, keep your proof of submission, and don’t guess your way through if you feel uncertain. And if you’re placing your child elsewhere, verify registration properly before you commit. Either way, you’re not alone. Welcome to Grade R and homeschooling.