St Joseph’s Primary School Attendance Policy is aligned to the Canberra Goulburn Catholic Education Policy Attendance at Schools (NSW)” Jan 2013.

Rationale

The community of St Joseph’s Primary School believes that:

•  Regular attendance at school increases the opportunity for children to participate in the life of the community and to optimise students’ learning.
•  Education is a sequential process. Absences often mean students miss important stages in the development of topics, causing them to find ‘catching up’ difficult.
•  All enrolled students are required to attend school unless reasonable and valid grounds exist for them to be absent such as illness.
•  Parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children attend school regularly, and are only absent if ill or if absolutely necessary, and to notify the school, by means of a phone call or letter, of the absence.

The NSW Education Act 1990 requires that children of school age (six to 17 years) are required to be in full-time attendance at a government or registered non-government school unless they are receiving approved home-tuition, correspondence education, or have been granted an exemption by the Education Department

The Principal has a responsibility to ensure that attendance records are maintained and monitored at school.

 All student absences are recorded each morning and afternoon by teachers,

 All teaching staff are to submit their class roll record sheets each week to the School Office Manager for recording of absences.

 Attendance Data is required to be reported on in the school’s Annual Report

Class Rolls and notes are kept for the period prescribed by the relevant Acts.

Procedures

• Class teachers record daily absences in a class roll according to guidelines at the commencement of each school day and during the afternoon session.
• Parents are encouraged to provide a written explanation of a student’s absence.
• If a written explanation is not forthcoming within two weeks of the student’s return to school, the class teacher issues a formal reminder. (Appendix A)
• Each week student attendance is recorded electronically by the school clerical officer.
• Families whose child has been absent for more than 3 days without explanation will be contacted. The roll will be marked as absent until the student returns, or until the school is notified that the student has enrolled in another school.
• The Assistant Principal reviews all class rolls at the end of each term.
• If a teacher or the Assistant Principal is concerned about a student’s attendance history, inform the Principal who will endeavour to contact the parents by phone to discuss the child’s absences. If absences continue, a letter is to be sent advising the parent of the legal requirements to attend school on a daily basis.
• Under the guidance of the Principal / Assistant Principal- an individual case management plan will be implemented for students whose attendance is irregular and unexplained and where initial interventions have limited effect.  This will involve the provision of support and strategies to work closely with appropriate individuals, parents and community organisations having regard for social, cultural and religious factors associated with indigenous children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and socially disadvantaged children.
• In the event that all possible avenues available to the school to encourage attendance have been exhausted without success the Principal or Assistant Principal will make contact with the Catholic Education Office (CEO) School Services Officer to discuss options including continuing enrolment.

Information for Parents

(Included in the K-6 Parent Information Handbook)

 Absence

Any absence is to be explained in writing, upon the child’s return.  No child is allowed to leave the school grounds without written notification.  Parents are required to sign a register located in the front office before taking the student during school hours.

Exemptions for Student Attendance

When parents plan to exclude their children from school for reasons other than sickness or unforeseen events i.e. funerals, the parent or caregiver is required to complete an Application for Student Exemption form. A certificate of exemption will then be issued. Forms are available from the school office.

APPENDIX A

Dear Parent/ Guardian,

 Our records show that your child was absent from school without explanation on the following dates. Please complete

 the required information and return it to the class teacher by………………..

Teacher………………………………

……………………………………………………..(student name) was absent from school on

…………………….. due to ……………………………………………………………………

…………………….. due to ……………………………………………………………………

…………………….. due to …………………………………………………………………..

Signed……………………………………… Parent/ Guardian

  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Teacher Copy retain until parent copy is returned.

If the parent copy is not returned by the date specified, record A in the roll, and then file this copy with class absence notes.

Dear Parent/ Guardian,

 Our records show that your child was absent from school without explanation on the following dates.                                                          

Please complete the required information and return it to the class teacher by………………..

……………………………………………………..(student name) was absent from school on

…………………….. due to ……………………………………………………………………

…………………….. due to ……………………………………………………………………

…………………….. due to …………………………………………………………………..

Request sent on………………………………………  Signed ………………………………..(teacher)