Grandparents who become carers for their grandchildren may not have had contact with the education system for some time. You may wonder what schooling is like today: how children are taught, how student behaviour is managed and how a child’s learning and progress is monitored, assessed and reported. The children in your care may have physical, emotional or behavioural difficulties that need help. You will be faced with school expenses that you may not have planned for, and which are likely to stretch your budgets. You will want to know what financial support you can expect and how to access it. This booklet provides information about those matters. It also explains starting and changing schools, school costs and assistance, compulsory attendance, home–school communication and child care.

In interviews, grandparents have asked schools – and particularly counsellors and others who work with a distressed or disturbed child – to be sensitive about the experiences that might be affecting the child’s behaviour, to treat discussions confidentially and to consult with the grandparents about the best forms of treatment. Most of all, grandparents who are raising grandchildren tell inquiries that they want to be recognised as the primary carers of their grandchildren. They want to be able to tell the school about the child’s circumstances, to receive information about the child’s learning and progress and to be seen as the point of contact if an emergency arises. It is obviously very important that schools and children’s carers work in partnership in the interests of children, their happiness, welfare and learning.

For any queries about education, the first point of call is your neighbourhood school. If they are unable to help you, contact your nearest branch of the Department of Education, and it will advise or refer you to a place where you can get the information you need.

• Northern Branch: (03) 6336 2594
• Southern Branch: (03) 6233 8459
• North-Western Branch: (03) 6434 6389

For further information:

• Schooling in Tasmania
• Enrolling a child in school
• Communicating with the school
• School costs and financial assistance
• School attendance

This information is also available in the Education and Childcare brochure [PDF 963KB].