Welcome to LearnWell's Homeschool Hub!

For information on the process for applying to become a home educator you need to work with the Ministry of Education. LearnWell cannot assist with this step.

LearnWell is an educational publisher that believes in supporting educators as they shape their student’s learning experience. We offer resources with no subscriptions, contracts, or annual fees – giving you the flexibility to create a customised learning program that fits your child's needs. You can choose as many or as few resources from our shop as you'd like. We’re here to provide you with the tools you need to help your child work competently through the NZ curriculum at each stage.

Yes! LearnWell’s Start Right Workbooks are designed to align with the New Zealand curriculum. On successful completion of a workbook, your child will have covered the bulk of the required knowledge and skills for that year level. Start Right Workbooks are designed to be used in conjunction with some input from a parent/teacher. As a home educator you will already likely be adding richness to the learning that takes place in texts, and see the value in library visits, shopping trips, walks in nature, sport, art classes and other extracurricular activities.

LearnWell does not sell a specific reading programme. Start Right English Workbooks give lots of opportunity for rich conversations with your younger child which will help them build their vocabulary and reading comprehension. 

The approach to reading in Start Right English Workbooks aligns with the principles of Structured Literacy, which includes: 

1. Systematic Instruction: Each workbook follows a planned sequence that progresses from foundational skills to more advanced concepts. 
2. Explicit Instruction: Skills are clearly explained and modelled with carefully selected examples, ensuring clarity in learning. 
3. Practice Exercises: Each topic features exercises that allow students to apply their skills to reading texts, accompanied by prompt, corrective feedback in the Answers section. 
4. Structure of Language: The Language Tools section covers essential reading skills, including sentence, paragraph, and narrative structure, as well as word patterns, homophones, vocabulary and spelling skills. 

You can work through our resources cover-to-cover if that works well for you. Or choose topics that will interest your children and extend their learning with visits to a local museum, park, beach or library.  The topics within our resources will feed their curiosity and working with this is a wonderful way to keep them engaged in learning. You can read about how this worked well for one homeschooling family.

Mathematics has a special way of continuously building on the knowledge already gained. Each Start Right Mathematics Workbook is scaffolded to increase learning step by step and it can be helpful to work through these books in order. We encourage learners to take advantage of everyday situations—like cooking, shopping, or measuring—to extend their learning beyond the workbook and make maths come alive.

Start Right Homework Workbooks give the learner the opportunity to test their learning across a variety of subjects with each section being based on a theme.

Only if you want them all! Knowing what serves your child's education well and tailoring your curriculum choices accordingly is one of the great benefits of home education.

This is really common. Writing is a learned skill, and until they develop the necessary muscles, it can be uncomfortable. To develop fine motor skills, encourage activities like painting, chalk drawing, hand sewing, and block building. Have them write a title or their name on their creations and invite them to share the story behind their artwork.

The Start Right Junior Handwriting Workbook promotes good letter formation. While children develop their writing skills, focus on reading together and discussing everyday activities to build vocabulary and storytelling.

You decide which curriculum is best for your child and how and when to teach it. 

For context, you can look at school requirements. Currently, primary schools in New Zealand are required to provide at least one hour per day of Numeracy, Reading, and Writing. The curriculum recommends equal emphasis on the other five learning areas—Social Sciences, PE and Health, Science, The Arts, and Technology—but schools vary in their approaches. 

Some schools adopt an integrated programme, where a single topic, such as Weather, covers multiple subjects. For example, Science may involve studying clouds and the water cycle, while Social Studies looks at weather patterns in New Zealand, and Technology might focus on designing a wind-powered vehicle. Topics like Matariki could cover Science, The Arts, Social Studies and Mātauranga Māori. Others may spread topics over two or three years, emphasising different subjects each year—Year 3 might focus on Science and The Arts, while Year 4 could prioritise Social Studies and Technology. 

While schools must provide at least two hours of instruction before lunch and two hours afterward, totalling 380 half-days per year, you have the flexibility to create your own timetable. 

Yes, many! Some intermediate-aged children will enjoy working through the Year 7 and 8 Start Right Workbooks, and others might like to see how they go with the Year 9 Learning Guides or LearnWell Digital. General workbooks of interest to this age group include The Start Right Punctuation Workbook and My Creative Writing Start Right Workbook.

From Year 9 and above we have Learning Guides, LearnWell Digital, Learning Workbooks and Study Guides. Please see our general FAQs for information on each of these ranges. Our resources have been used and trusted by New Zealand parents and teachers for close to 30 years as we continuously review and update where necessary. 

Yes, we offer LearnWell Digital resources designed for students working at Level 4 of the New Zealand curriculum and above, which typically corresponds to Years 9-13. For primary-aged learners, we have our popular Start Right Workbooks available.

The content in the School Use and Home Use resources is the same. The difference is that learners work completely independently through the Home Use option, while School Use allows a teacher or mentor to facilitate and review their progress. 

As a Home Educator, you should purchase the School Use option so you as the mentor are able to review your learner’s work and progress.  Purchasing the product will involve a process where your child is set up as your student. There is no additional cost for this. 

LearnWell is an educational publisher and is not able to assess learning or award NCEA credits. We provide high-quality, NZ-curriculum-based resources to assist your child to work towards their credits.

Level 1 is the first of the three levels of NCEA. Most students begin studying at this level around age 15 (Year 11 in the NZ school system).  There is no requirement for students to sit assessments for NCEA Level 1. 

At least 25% of NZ secondary schools no longer offer NCEA Level 1 for assessment, choosing instead to prepare students for Levels 2 and 3 through alternative programmes. These schools create their own courses using both current and expired NCEA Achievement Standards alongside in-school learning. 

Your child can still study the necessary NCEA Level 1 subjects to progress to higher levels without formal assessment, and LearnWell offers a range of resources to support their learning.

You have the option of enrolling your student in Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (formerly the Correspondence School). Studying with Te Kura will incur a fee if your child is under the age of 16 at the time of enrolment. 

Any local school may be willing to assist you with assessment and allowing your child to sit the external exams on their site, but they are under no obligation to. This is a conversation you could start to see what options might be available in your area. 

If your student is 16 years of age, they are entitled to free enrolment at Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu so they can gain the formal NCEA Level 2 and 3 qualifications while still studying at home. Regardless of your choices around assessment, LearnWell offers a range of resources to support your child’s learning right up to scholarship level. 

Additionally tertiary institutions have foundation courses for students without NCEA or equivalent qualifications. LearnWell is a subsidiary of the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, which offers Bridging and Foundation Courses. Your child’s preferred option for after high school can be approached directly for more details about their entry requirements.