September Newsletter

Purchased Curriculum Checklist

1. Does the provider allow you to access evidence of learning?

If you cannot access evidence of your child's work by the provider, we may not be able to accept your HESP. This is based on the fact, if the work undertaken by your child cannot be retrieved, you will not be able to demonstrate evidence of learning.

If yes, it may be in your best interest to enquire whether accessing evidence is charged at an additional cost.

2. Are you able to download and/or print the evidence of learning?

You must be able to demonstrate evidence of your child's learning. Without evidence we cannot evaluate your program at your registration visit and therefore full registration may not be granted.

3. Are you able to make changes and adapt the curriculum to best support your child's learning?

The beauty of home education is that it doesn't have to be a one size fits all. 

One of the many positives of home educating is that you can make small adjustments to your child's program as you go. Families new to home educating often find that this is the case, where slight tweaks are sometimes needed, especially in the early stages of their home education journey. 

4. Does the curriculum meet the standards for registration?

If you feel unsure whether the curriculum you intend to purchase will meet the standards for registration, we encourage you to refer to the document 'Understanding the Standards'.

If you are still feeling unsure, we strongly encourage you to contact our Office where we will connect you with an available Registration Officer to assist your further.

Charlotte Mason was a teacher and lecturer in Britain during the late 1800s. She based her teaching methods on the belief that all children are born as full persons, an idea which was ahead of its time in an era when most educators saw children as blank slates to be filled with information. She felt that students be educated on real concepts through their natural environment, the training of good habits, and exposure to living ideas. Her approach to teaching and learning has become popular with home educating families worldwide.

Charlotte Mason described 20 core principles of education and expanded on her educational philosophy over six books.  Some important aspects are:

• The method is literature-rich, with an emphasis on preferring high quality, engaging, inspiring ‘living books’ rather than textbooks or ‘twaddle’ (works of low literary value). Modern home educators often select a much wider variety of books that Mason had on her original lists, encompassing more recent works and perhaps books from diverse cultures. Viewing of good movies and documentaries can also be included.
• Narration, or the student retelling what they have learned, it preferred to workbooks or worksheets. Copywork and dictation from living books are often used to practice writing, while children are asked to memorise important passages.
• Lesson time should be kept short, allowing plenty of time for the student to pursue their own interests in their free time. Many families choose to follow a structured plan of learning activities in the mornings and leave the afternoons for more interest-led activities.
• Students should learn to understand and appreciate nature by doing nature study and spending plenty of time outside in the environment.
• Art and music are introduced early on in a gentle way.
• Children are encouraged to learn and practice good habits in schooling and in life, as education is considered an integral part of life.
• Mason emphasised the importance of teaching a ‘knowledge of God’ from the Biblical viewpoint, however while this is a core value for many families, there are also many educators using a Charlotte Mason-inspired approach that is not specifically Christian.

As home educators, we are fortunate to have a great degree of flexibility when creating a program for our children, and it is not necessary to commit to one or another education style; instead, we can draw from various styles whatever works best for a particular child.  Charlotte Mason education can still be delivered today in a way that is similar to the original ideal, by following one of the comprehensive programs available, or by studying the method and creating a customised version for a child. Alternatively, some of the aspects outlined above can easily be incorporated alongside elements of other styles to build an eclectic home education program.