Enrol Grandchild School NSW Without Parenting Order

Schools Cannot Refuse Enrolment Just Because You Lack a Court Order

Under NSW Department of Education policy, public school principals have the authority to accept enrolment applications from informal relative carers — grandparents, aunts, uncles or other family members — even when there is no parenting order, guardianship order or any other court document.

The child's right to education does not depend on the carer holding legal custody. If a child is living with you full-time and needs to attend school, the school must work with you to make enrolment happen.

If the front office tells you enrolment is impossible without a court order, ask to speak directly with the principal. The policy is on your side.

The Carer Authorisation Declaration

For informal care arrangements, the key document is a Carer Authorisation Declaration — a written statement signed by you declaring that the child lives in your full-time care, the nature of the care arrangement, and your authority to make educational decisions.

Some schools have their own version of this form. If the school does not have one, a statutory declaration under the Oaths Act 1900 (NSW) covering the same information will satisfy the requirement. The statutory declaration should state:

• Your full name and relationship to the child
• The child's full name and date of birth
• The date the child came into your care
• That the child resides at your address full-time
• That you are responsible for the child's daily care, health and educational decisions
• A brief explanation of why the biological parent is not the enrolling party (you do not need to provide private details — "the parent is unable to care for the child at this time" is sufficient)

Get the statutory declaration witnessed by a Justice of the Peace (free at most NSW local courts and some pharmacies), a solicitor, or another person authorised under the Oaths Act.

What If You Do Not Have a Birth Certificate

Schools will ask for the child's birth certificate as part of enrolment, but they cannot refuse to start the enrolment process while you are waiting for it. If the birth certificate is held by the estranged parent or you have never had a copy, explain this to the principal and provide whatever identity documents you do have — a Medicare card, immunisation records, or a previous school's transfer documentation.

You can apply for a birth certificate from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM). If you have a court order granting parental responsibility, you can apply directly. If you are an informal carer, submit a written request to the Registrar with your statutory declaration, proof of care, and identity documents. Fee waivers are available for low-income carers, pensioners and Aboriginal carers.

Transport: The School Student Transport Scheme

Once the child is enrolled, apply for a School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel pass through Service NSW. This covers free or subsidised travel for primary and secondary students attending their nearest appropriate school. The application is assessed against standard distance criteria, with exemptions for vulnerable children and complex family circumstances.

Apply online through the Service NSW website. You will need the school's confirmation of enrolment and your address.

What the School Needs From You Going Forward

Beyond enrolment, the school will need your authority for:

• Excursions and activities — signing permission slips
• Medical emergencies — authorising first aid or ambulance transport
• Educational support — consenting to learning support assessments or adjustments
• Report access — being listed as the contact for academic reports

If your court order gives you parental responsibility, it establishes your authority for the school decisions covered by the order. If you are an informal carer, the Carer Authorisation Declaration or statutory declaration establishes your authority for day-to-day school decisions.

For matters that go beyond routine — such as consenting to a major educational assessment, changing schools, or signing a student's suspension acknowledgement — the school may ask for additional evidence of your care arrangement. Keep copies of your statutory declaration and any supporting documents (Centrelink letters, medical records) accessible.

Discretionary Financial Help From the School

Many NSW public schools maintain equity funds for families facing financial hardship. These can cover uniform costs, textbooks, excursion fees and technology levies. The funds are discretionary and not advertised on the school website.

Ask for a confidential meeting with the principal or the school's Student Support Officer. Explain that you are a kinship carer on a fixed income. Schools are accustomed to these conversations and will not publicise your circumstances.

The NSW Kinship Carer Support guide includes a school enrolment preparation section with a reference sheet of every document the school will ask for — so you arrive at the first meeting with everything the principal needs to complete enrolment on the spot.

See more New South Wales guides →