ST FRANCIS CATHOLIC COLLEGE, EDMONDSON PARK

A Diocesan College in the Edmund Rice Tradition

ATTENDANCE POLICY

INTRODUCTION

The Attendance Policy has been developed to adhere to and implement the following legislative requirements:

• Education Act 1990 (NSW)
• Registration Systems and Member Non-government Schools (NSW) Manual (2017) - NESA
• Attendance Register Codes (2015) - NSW Department of Education and Communities
• National Standards for Student Attendance Data Reporting 2015 – ACARA
• Student Attendance Policy- Catholic Education Office Wollongong (2015)
• Procedures for Student Attendance – NSW Catholic Systemic Schools (2015) – Catholic Education Office Sydney available on CEC

CONTEXT

St Francis Catholic College is a Diocesan P-12 Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition in the Parish of Mary, Mother of the Church, Macquarie Fields at Edmondson Park.  The College motto encourages all members of the community to grow and develop ‘open minds and open hearts’ through opening their minds to enriching new learning experiences and through opening their hearts by being faith filled people of integrity, courage, compassion, inclusion and justice.

PURPOSE

It is the policy of St Francis Catholic College that all students attend the College for the full duration of each term. Regular attendance and punctuality is essential in maximising student learning opportunities and fostering quality life outcomes, including self-discipline and responsibility in each student.

As outlined in The Education Act (1990), a child is of compulsory school-age if the child is of or above the age of 6 years and below the minimum school leaving age. It is the obligation of the parent to comply with the compulsory educational requirements set out in the Act and ensure children attend school regularly and without unnecessary or frivolous absences. Mandatory reporting procedures apply where absences are extended or the student may be at risk.

Register of enrolment

A register of enrolments that includes the following details will be maintained for each student.

• Name, age and address
• The name and contact telephone number of parent(s)/carer(s)
• Date of enrolment and, where appropriate, the date of leaving the school and the student’s destination
• For students older than six (6) years, previous school or pre-enrolment situation
• Where the destination of a student below seventeen (17) years of age is unknown, evidence that a NSW Department of Education officer with home school liaison responsibilities has been notified of the student’s full name, date of birth, last known address, last date of attendance, parents’ names and contact details, an indication of possible destination, other information that may assist officers to locate the student, and any known work health and safety risks associated with contacting the parents or student.

St Francis College collects, monitors and records the daily attendance and absence of all students within the student management system. Unexplained absences from school and/or classes will be investigated in an appropriate manner with the student and their parent/carer.

EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS

1.0         ATTENDANCE

1.1         each student is expected to attend the College everyday throughout the duration of the school year.

1.2         classes commence at 8.30am and conclude at 2.45pm each day. It is recommended that students arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of lessons to assist in their daily organisation.         

2.0         ABSENCE - WHOLE DAY AND PARTIAL

2.1         students must provide a note from a parent/carer explaining the reason of the child’s absence. This note is to be given to their classroom/Pastoral Care teacher on their first day back after this absence. Students are required to provide a written explanation within seven days of the absence occurring. Alternatively, students can ask their parents/carers to provide an explanation for their absence by responding to the SMS sent by the College.

2.2         lateness and early departures are recorded as partial absences and must be explained in the same manner as other absences.

2.3         any absence that has not been explained within seven days will be recorded as Unknown or Unjustified.

2.3        a student who needs to leave before the end of the school day, must be signed out at College Reception by a parent/carer. A student from Years 5-12 who is aware they will be signing out must present their class teacher with a note from a parent/carer. The class teacher will then permit the student to leave the class at the appropriate time and wait for the parent/carer in College Reception. Students from K-4 will be called to College Reception when their parent/carer arrives.

2.4        repeated lateness and poor attendance will be addressed by the College Principal to implement immediate and sustained action for improvement. This may be referred to the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wollongong for further support if no improvement is made.

2.5        it is the student’s responsibility to ask their class/subject teacher for and complete any work missed during an absence.

3.0         ABSENCE - EXTENDED

3.0        As part of the implementation of National Standards, holidays taken by students outside of vacation periods will now be included as absences. A Certificate of Exemption can no longer be granted for this purpose. Families are encouraged to holiday or travel during school vacations. If travel during the school term is necessary the following conditions apply:

• If the Principal accepts the reason for the absence, the absence will be marked as ‘L’
• If the Principal does not believe the absence is in the student’s best interests and does not accept the reason, the absence is unjustified and will be recorded as ‘A’
• If the period of absence is in excess of 50 days, the student may be eligible to enrol in Distance Education. For that period the student’s enrolment transfers to the distance education school (Note that a student cannot be enrolled in more than one school concurrently).
• Teachers will not be responsible for providing work for students who are taking extended absences during the school term.

4.0         EXEMPTION

4.1        for students who wish to participate in employment in the entertainment industry or elite sports/art events for a period totalling up to 100 days in a 12 month period, they are required to complete and submit to the College Principal and Application for Exemption from Attendance/Enrolment at School form for approval.

5.0         STAGE 5 FORESEEABLE ABSENCE PROCEDURE

5.1        Students must follow the Stage 5 Foreseeable Absence Procedure if they are aware they will be absent on the submission date for a Formal Assessment Task.

EXPECTATIONS FOR STAFF

6.0         ABSENCE – WHOLE DAY AND PARTIAL

Staff must:

6.1         maintain an accurate register of daily attendance that includes the following information for each student:

– daily attendance

– absences

– reason for absence

– documentation to substantiate reason for absence.

6.2        enter daily attendance and period attendance records into the College student management system.

6.3        use the correct and appropriate Attendance Register Codes to explain student absence and/or variation in student attendance.         

6.4        alert the Principal or Pastoral Coordinator when a student’s pattern of attendance is of concern or no correspondence from the parent/carer has been received within seven days.

6.5        retain records of written, electronic and verbal explanations from parents. If teachers receive verbal explanations from parents, they should record, sign and date the explanation.

6.6        follow up attendance reports at Year/Stage Meetings with appropriate staff members.

The College Leadership Team must:

6.7        ensure poor patterns of attendance will be followed up.

6.8        send a formal letter to parent/carers regarding frequent and/or unexplained absences        

6.9        ensure immediate action will be taken if a student has been truanting. An interview and intervention will be arranged with the parent/carers, student and a member of the College Leadership Team.

6.10        monitor repeated lateness and poor attendance and notify the College Principal for immediate action and sustained improvement. This may be referred to the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wollongong for further support if no improvement is made.

6.11        promote regular attendance at school through teaching and learning activities that acknowledge the learning and support needs of students.

The College Principal must:

6.12        keep a register of the enrolments and daily attendances of all children at the College. The register of daily attendances must be retained for a period of seven years after the last entry was made. In the case of a student who has had an accident requiring the completion of an accident report, the record will be retained until the student reaches the age of 25 years.

6.13        retained the register of enrolments permanently.

6.14         store copies of enrolment and the register of daily attendance off-site at regular intervals.

Policy Publication: May 2018

Policy to be Reviewed: May 2020