Tutors provide additional support to homeschooling parents. ...

Operators of tutor centres can be found here.

Until recently, there was no legal recognition of tutor centres. With the BELA Act, some recognition was given to tutor centres. In the definition of home education S1 states " “ “home education” means a purposeful programme of education for a learner, alternative to school attendance, which— (a) is provided under the direction of the learner’s parent, primarily in the environment of the learner’s home; (b) may include tutorial or other educational support, if necessary, secured by the parent on specific areas of the curriculum followed by the learner; ..."

This amendment implicitly acknowledges the legitimacy of institutions that provide supplementary education, whereas the previous wording did not make this role explicit. However, these providers are still subject to important limitations:

• They may only offer support in specific areas of the curriculum, which is a vague concept open to broad interpretation. Even if a provider offers all but one subject, the Department may still regard this as exceeding “specific areas.”
• The service must be secured by the parent, which reinforces that the parent—not the centre—is the primary educator.
• In practice, many families use such supplementary centres as the main site of learning, rather than the home. This has led some departments to treat these centres as unregistered independent schools, resulting in closures and disputes. To remain within the definition of supplementary education, centres typically ensure that:
  • Learners are not enrolled for a specific grade; contracts refer only to subjects or support areas.
  • Attendance times are flexible.
  • The centre does not issue official grade-based reports.
  • The centre operates on schedules that differ from standard school terms.
• Some learners may still attend formal schools and use the centre for additional academic support.

It is also important to note that providers of supplementary education are not used exclusively by homeschoolers. They are increasingly used by school-going learners who need tutoring, subject-specific help, or enrichment beyond what their schools provide. This dual role reinforces the distinct educational function of supplementary education providers — they complement formal schooling rather than replace it.

While these centres are not required to register as independent schools, they must comply with municipal requirements related to land use, zoning, health, and safety, as they operate physical spaces where children are present. This distinction ensures that educational support can be offered lawfully without conflicting with the constitutional and statutory framework governing formal schooling.

Tutor centres that want to gain a better understanding of the regulatory environment in which they operate can book a personal consultation here.

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