Requirements - 2025

In 2025, NESA will inspect schools selected in relation to two Policy areas and two Curriculum areas. A school may be selected for any area relevant to their Years of schooling. For example, a
K–12 school may be selected for either the Primary, Junior Secondary or Senior Secondary requirements.

Policy areas

Of the following , 2 of the policy requirements will be reviewed.

Enrolment and attendance (section B7.1 of the manual)

Evidence required:

• Enrolment register that includes the information in section B7.1 of the manual.
• Sample records of notifying the NSW Department of Education for students under 17 who left the school with an unknown destination (if relevant).
• Attendance register that records daily attendance, absences using the Minister’s approved common codes and evidence to reasons for absences.

Child protection (section B8.1 of the manual)

Evidence required:

• Policies and procedures to verify WWCC clearances for all people in child-related work prior to a person’s employment and following renewal of a WWCC clearance
• Register/records of all people in child-related work having a verified WWCC clearance prior to their employment and following renewal of a WWCC clearance
• Policies and procedures for ensuring that staff who have direct contact with students are informed at least every 12 months of their legal obligations for mandatory reporting and reportable conduct
• Records of staff who have direct contact with students being informed in the last 12 months of their legal obligations for mandatory reporting and reportable conduct

Student welfare (section B8.2 of the manual)

Evidence required:

• Policies and procedures for identifying and supporting students with disability and learning needs.
• Sample records of identifying and supporting students with disability and learning needs.
• Policy and procedure for managing complaints from students and/or parents that includes how to raise a concern and how the school responds to concerns.
• Sample records of managing complaints from students and/or parents
• Policies and procedures for anti-bullying, including how to identify and respond to allegations of bullying.
• Sample records of managing allegations of bullying.

Discipline (section B9.1 of the manual)

Evidence required:

• Policies and procedures for student suspension and expulsion that are based on procedural fairness.
• Sample records of managing a student suspension or expulsion (if relevant).

Curriculum requirements for 2025

'Curriculum - alignment' and one other curriculum requirement will be reviewed.

The process

NESA will notify a school of a short notice inspection no less than 10 calendar days before the inspection.

If selected for a short notice inspection, the Inspector will identify which 2 curriculum requirements and 2 policy requirements are the focus for the school’s inspection. The inspection details will be confirmed in writing.

After the NESA notification, the Strategic School Improvement (SSI) team will contact the school to offer guidance and support. School principals can also contact their DEL and PSL.

During a short notice inspection, schools are expected to provide a sample of current materials identified under each curriculum and policy area for the selected stage as listed above

If the NESA inspectors require more information or identify compliance concerns about the subset of selected manual requirements, additional evidence may be requested.

NESA inspectors, in consultation with SSI, DELs and principals, may vary an inspection schedule if needed.

A typical schedule for a NESA short notice inspection is as follows.:

• 9.30am – the inspection team arrives at the school to meet the principal and system personnel
• 10.00am – the inspection team reviews the evidence provided in relation to the subset of requirements
• 11.15am – the inspection team meets the principal and system personnel to provide their feedback
• 11.30am – the inspection team departs the school.

An Inspector will prepare a report identifying the findings in relation to the school’s compliance. The school, and system if relevant, will be provided with a copy of the report before it is considered by the NESA Registration and Accreditation Committee.

Resources

• NESA advice on Schools selected randomly for inspection
• NESA's Registration process for the NSW government schooling system manual
• All Department of Education Policies must be used in conjunction with NESA syllabuses.
• NESA syllabuses in each learning area K-10
• NESA syllabuses in each learning area 11-12
• NESA advice on scope and sequence
• NESA advice on programming
• ACE website (Assessment Certification Examination).