School Attendance

PROCEDURE FOR STUDENT ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL

The NSW Government – Education and Training – has implemented new legislation and replaced the old attendance procedure with a new one.

Click, “Attendance Policy” to view the NSW DET Policy.

The NSW Government makes it clear in their document that:

It is the duty of the State to ensure that every child receives an education of the highest quality and it is the duty of parents to comply with the compulsory education requirements of the Education Act 1990 (General Principles 1.1.2).

In short, it is your responsibility to send your child to school.

THE DIFFERENCES IN PROCEDURE ARE ESSENTIALLY AS FOLLOWS:-

Any days off school must be applied for in advance (using the forms stated below) and approved by the school for such things as:-

• Family Holidays – holidays over 20 days MUST have an accompanying travel itinerary Application for Leave form
• Extra-Curricular Activities (eg. Ballet, Scout Camps, Nipper’s Surf Carnivals, etc.) Application and Certificate for Exemption from Attendance at School
• Medical Reasons – days off sick remain the same.  A note to explain the absence is required.  The change here is that conditions, such as a tonsillectomy, wisdom teeth extraction, broken bones, and also vaccine preventable conditions (see, “Public Health Act 2010”) etc, need to be applied for and approved by the school.  Obviously this will be done after your doctor, specialist, etc has provided you with this information.  A Doctor’s Certificate must then accompany the application for exemption from attendance at school.
• Elite Sporting Programs or Specialist Entertainment Programs (these must be applied for and approved by the school, but have a separate application form).
• Student’s completing Apprenticeships or TraineeshipsCertificate for Exemption from Enrolment at School Under Section 25 of the Education Act 1990

All forms can be obtained from the Administration Office or downloaded from the link at the bottom of this screen.

Once an application for exemption for attendance at school has been submitted and approved, you will receive an approved copy of this form that you must have available if a request by relevant authorities is made to sight it.

Please Note: It would be rare that an application for exemption from attendance at school not be approved.

What happens if I don’t apply for, “exemption from attendance at school”?

You can be reported to the NSW Department of Education Student Welfare Directorate.  Also, police can request to sight your certificate of exemption if they happen upon you and your child during school hours.

Please click on one of the following links to obtain your relevant application form: