Attendance Procedures

Rationale

The NSW Education Act 1990 (the Education Act) requires all students of compulsory school age to be enrolled in and attend school unless they are registered for home schooling. Once enrolled, children are required to attend school each day the school is open. It is an offence under the Education Act (section 23) if a parent/carer does not meet the legal obligation in relation to the enrolment and attendance of their child(ren) at school or registration for home schooling.

Under the Education Act and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) registration requirements, independent schools are responsible for monitoring,recording, and following up student absences as well as implementing intervention strategies to improve student engagement and school attendance.

School staff have a legal responsibility to ensure that attendance of students at school is monitored and accurate records are kept.

Roll Marking Procedures

The Attendance Register for Avondale School is located on our student management system, SEQTA. Primary teachers enter attendance electronically into the system each morning at 9:00am. Secondary teachers enter attendance during Check-in at 9:48am and at the beginning of each period throughout the day.
This information will also be monitored and edited throughout the day by the Attendance Officer who seeks to reconcile discrepancies in real time.
If a primary student arrives at school late or leaves early, a parent must sign the student either in or out at the office using an iPad. An absence slip will be printed, which will then be given to the class teacher.
If a secondary student arrives at school late they sign themselves in using an iPad in the secondary office. When leaving early, if the parent is not present to sign the student out, parental permission is provided via phone call, email or note.
Only approved guardians or listed emergency contacts can sign a student out of school.
Any student who is late and arrives at the classroom without a processed leave slip, will be redirected to the office by the teacher.
If students are feeling unwell, they must report to sick bay. The First Aid Officer will contact parents to arrange collection if deemed necessary. Students are not allowed to exit the school without school and guardian permission and must sign out at the office.
Post compulsory aged students are required to demonstrate sustained diligence and effort to achieve the awards of the ROSA and Higher School Certificate. Punctuality, regular attendance and satisfactory participation in all subject areas are monitored closely for all students. Guardians of post-compulsory age students will be notified with attendance patterns of concern.
An SMS is sent to parents during the morning to inform them of a recorded absence.
Parents may respond to the SMS with a reason for the absence. Absence notes/emails from parents must be forwarded to the attendance officer for processing and uploading to SEQTA.
Student absences and variation to attendance will be recorded using the Minister’s codes.
When students are engaged with an external provider, they are required to sign out of campus. Parents are required to notify the school of any additional changes to the external pattern of study.
Students will not be granted leave for employment during school hours unless the work is part of the school enforced work experience program, PROPEL or TAFE.
Permanent of regular early leave passes cannot be issued to allow students to attend extra-curricular lessons or part time work.

Stage 6 Flexible Attendance

Year 11 and 12 students may arrive late or leave early if they have free study periods at the start or the end of the day. They are required to sign in and sign out using the iPad in the office. Parent permission is not required.
When a year 11 and 12 student has a free study period in the middle of the day they are to sign in at the iCentre. They are not allowed to leave school grounds in the middle of the day.

Monitoring Attendance

The Attendance Officer provides regular reports on attendance.
Class teachers and stage coordinators are expected to complete a wellbeing check with parents if a student is absent for three or more consecutive days. Primary teachers and Stage coordinators are also required to contact parents if a pattern of poor attendance becomes obvious.
If attendance falls below 85%, a parent meeting may then be arranged by the Head of School, and an Attendance Plan formulated with the aim of supporting the improvement of attendance. Counsellors, Inclusive Education Staff and Chaplains may be involved in supporting attendance.
In the case that parents fail to engage with the school in developing an attendance plan or the plan is not adhered to, the Principal will report the matter to the Department of Communities and Families & Community Services.

Exemption from Attendance or Enrolment

Where the parents of a student of compulsory school age seek an exemption from attendance at school or an exemption from enrolment by completing the forms on the school website, the principal will process the parent’s application in accordance with the guidelines from NSW Department of Education.
Where parents seek more than a term of exemption from attendance, the school may not approve the leave, but rather recommend distance education.
The principal may exercise the Minister’s delegation under Section 25 of the Education Act in relation to granting and cancelling a certificate of exemption from being enrolled and attending school in certain prescribed circumstances.