You probably don't need a curriculum yet

Most parents who pull their kids from school spend the first few weeks in a panic about curriculum. They join Facebook groups, get 40 different recommendations, spend hours on international homeschool websites, and end up either paralysed or panic-buying something expensive that sits in a drawer.

Here is the thing: you almost certainly do not need to commit to a curriculum before you start. And if you do buy one in the first month, there is a reasonable chance it will not suit your child and you will need to change course anyway.

This post is about why it is fine to wait, what to do instead, and how curriculum eventually feeds into your MoE exemption application.

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Why curriculum panic happens

When you are used to school, curriculum feels like the point. School runs on it. So when you pull your child out, it feels like the first thing you need to replace.

But school curriculum exists to manage 30 kids at different levels in the same room at the same time. You have one child, or a small handful, and you are with them all day. The whole reason homeschooling works is that you can go at their pace, follow their interests, and change direction when something is not landing.

Locking yourself into an expensive structured curriculum before you know how your child learns at home is working backwards.

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Deschooling: what it is and why you should do it first

Deschooling is the adjustment period after leaving school where your child (and often you) detox from the school rhythm before real learning begins.

The rough rule of thumb: one month of deschooling for every year your child was in school. So if your 10-year-old has been in school since age 5, you are looking at around five months before they are fully reset. That does not mean five months of doing nothing, it means five months of low pressure, following curiosity, and letting the school anxiety drain away.

During this time, watch your child. Notice what they are drawn to. Notice how they learn best. Do they like to read? Build? Watch videos and then talk endlessly about what they learned? Do they need structure or do they thrive with open time? You cannot know this until you observe it, and you cannot observe it until the school mindset has faded.

Use this time well. Go to the library. Spend time outside. Let them pursue an obsession, even if the obsession is Minecraft or origami. Read together. Cook together. Have conversations. Plenty of real learning happens here.

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What most NZ families end up doing: eclectic homeschooling

After the deschooling period, most New Zealand homeschool families end up eclectic. That means pulling from multiple resources rather than following any single curriculum. A maths workbook from one place, a reading programme from another, a science kit, documentaries, nature journeys, community classes, and a lot of conversation.

This is not a compromise position. It is often the most effective approach, because it means you are always choosing the right tool for the right subject and the right child.

There are also more structured approaches if that suits your family better:

Classical education follows a three-stage model (grammar, logic, rhetoric) focused on great books, history, and rigorous writing. It is academically demanding and works well for children who love reading and discussion.

Charlotte Mason emphasises nature study, living books (well-written narrative non-fiction and fiction rather than textbooks), narration, and short lessons. It has a strong following in New Zealand.

Structured curriculum providers like Calvert, Oak Meadow, or local NZ providers offer full year packages with lesson plans and assessments. These suit families who want everything organised for them and children who do well with clear structure.

Interest-led or unschooling takes the position that children learn best by following their own curiosity with adult support. This works better than most people expect and is more academically productive than it sounds, but it requires comfort with uncertainty.

The most important thing is fit. A curriculum that works beautifully for one child will frustrate another. You will not know what fits until you have watched your child learn for a while.

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When should you actually choose something?

After your deschooling period, you will have a much clearer picture of your child's learning style and what gaps need addressing. That is the right time to start researching.

A few practical suggestions:

• Borrow before you buy. The NZ homeschool community is generous. Ask in local Facebook groups if anyone has materials you can try before committing.
• Start with one or two subjects, not everything at once. Maths and literacy are the obvious ones, since they tend to need the most explicit teaching. Everything else can be covered through broader learning while you get your bearings.
• Give yourself permission to change. You will probably not get it exactly right first time. That is normal and fine.

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How curriculum connects to your MoE application

When you apply for a home education exemption, you need to explain your educational philosophy and approach to the Ministry of Education. This is not a box-ticking exercise. It is an explanation of how you plan to teach your child and why you believe it will work.

Your choice of curriculum (or your reasons for taking an eclectic or interest-led approach) is a key part of that. The Ministry wants to see that you have a considered, coherent approach, not necessarily that you have a specific textbook.

If you are still in the deschooling period when you write your application, you can say so. Acknowledge the adjustment period, explain what you are observing, and describe the approach you are moving toward. That is honest, and honest applications tend to go well.

If you are not sure how to write this part of your application in a way that satisfies the MoE, that is exactly what Pulled helps with.

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FAQ

Q: Can I just start without any curriculum at all? A: Yes. Especially if you are in the deschooling period, unstructured learning is appropriate and valuable. The Ministry's requirement is that your child will be taught "as regularly and well as in a registered school," not that you use a specific curriculum.

Q: Is unschooling legal in New Zealand? A: Yes. Interest-led learning is a valid educational philosophy and families successfully receive exemptions on this basis. The key is explaining your approach clearly in the application.

Q: How much does homeschool curriculum cost in NZ? A: It varies enormously. Some families spend almost nothing by using libraries, free online resources, and community activities. Structured curriculum packages can cost several hundred dollars per year. Most families land somewhere in between.

Q: What if the Ministry asks about our curriculum during the application process? A: Be honest about where you are in your thinking. If you are still working it out, say that, and describe what you are observing about your child and the direction you are heading. That is more convincing than a vague commitment to a curriculum you have not actually chosen.

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The exemption application is the formal side of homeschooling in NZ — Pulled helps you write it. Start here →