NT Homeschool Withdrawal Letter: What to Write and When to Send It

The biggest mistake NT families make with the withdrawal letter is sending it too early. In the Northern Territory, the withdrawal letter to the school is the final step in the process, not the first. Sending it before you have DET approval doesn't start the clock — it starts a truancy investigation.

Here is what you need to know before you write a single word.

You Write the Letter After DET Approves You

Under the Education Act 2015 (NT), the CEO of the Department of Education and Training holds all regulatory authority over home education — not school principals. Before your child can legally stop attending school, DET must issue a Home Education Approval Notice. You apply to DET first, you wait for assessment (including a possible home visit or teleconference), and then, once approval comes through, you write to the school.

If you send a withdrawal letter before DET approval, your child is still legally required to attend. The school will record the absences, and the territory's compulsory attendance provisions may be triggered.

What to Include in the Letter

Once you have your DET Approval Notice, the withdrawal letter to the principal can be short. There is no legal requirement to write an essay. A single page is fine. Include:

Child's details Full name, year level, date of birth (some schools request this for records purposes).

Intended last day of attendance Give a specific date — at least a few days out so the school can process the withdrawal and prepare any documents you may need (such as a school report or NAPLAN history).

Reference to DET approval State clearly that your application for home education has been approved by the Department of Education and Training and that you hold the Home Education Approval Notice. You do not need to attach the notice, but it is good practice to have it available if the school asks.

Your contact details A phone number and email for follow-up correspondence.

That is all that is legally required. A clear, professional letter citing your DET approval is complete.

What the School Cannot Require

Schools in the NT sometimes request additional steps before processing a withdrawal. The following are not legal requirements, and you are not obliged to participate:

• Curriculum review or plan approval by the principal
• An exit interview with the principal or a counsellor
• A psychological or welfare assessment of your child
• A meeting with the school welfare officer

Section 46 of the Education Act makes clear that authority over home education sits with the CEO of DET, not with school principals. Once DET has approved your application, the principal's role is administrative — processing the withdrawal, not gatekeeping it.

If a school refuses to process your withdrawal after DET approval, see the guidance in school refusing withdrawal northern territory.

The Northern Territory Legal Withdrawal Blueprint includes a ready-to-use letter template, checklist of what to include, and the exact DET approval sequence so you reach the letter stage without any missteps.

Sample Letter Structure

Below is a structure you can adapt. The specific wording will depend on your circumstances, but this covers the required elements.

[Date]

[Principal's name and title] [School name] [School address]

Dear [Principal's name],

I am writing to formally notify you that I am withdrawing [child's full name] (Year [X], DOB [date]) from [school name], effective [last day of attendance].

[Child's first name] has been approved for home education by the Northern Territory Department of Education and Training. I hold the Home Education Approval Notice issued by DET and am able to provide a copy upon request.

Please arrange for [child's first name]'s school records to be made available to me, including [any specific records — report cards, NAPLAN results, etc.].

Thank you for your assistance with this transition.

Yours sincerely, [Your name] [Phone / Email]

After You Send the Letter

Once the school receives your letter, they will update their enrolment records. You should receive confirmation — either a formal acknowledgment or a phone call. If you do not hear back within a few days, follow up in writing so you have a record.

Keep copies of everything: your DET application, the Approval Notice, your withdrawal letter, and any correspondence from the school. You may need these if questions arise later, particularly around attendance records or any future re-enrolment.

Under Section 48 of the Education Act 2015, if you later cease home education, you are required to notify the CEO of DET within 14 days. At that point you can re-enrol your child in a school in the normal way.

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