Warrington School/Board Of Trustees/Attendance

NAG 6 New Zealand Schools OER Portal/Governance

August 2010

“Every Board of Trustees shall, by any means it thinks appropriate, take all reasonable steps to ensure the attendance of students enrolled at its school or schools (or institution or institutions).”

The school roll will be managed using the national ENROL programme.

DEFINITIONS OF ATTENDANCE, ABSENCE AND TRUANCY


 * Justified absences (JA) are absences recorded in the register, and marked as having been satisfactorily explained. A school has to make a judgement as to which explanations they will accept. The basis for such judgements is a matter of school policy, and as such the balance of justified and unjustified absences may vary slightly from school to school. For example, most schools would probably determine that a student's sickness should be recorded as a justified absence while schools may vary in their judgement when parents take their child/ren overseas during school days. 
 * Unjustified absences (UA) are absences, which are not explained, or not explained to the satisfaction of the school.
 * Intermittent unjustified absences (IUA) occur when a student is absent for part of a morning (or afternoon) or part of a period without justification. For example, a student who arrives 15 minutes late to school without a reason, or with a reason that is not acceptable to the principal would be recorded as an intermittently unjustified absence.

Attendance/Absentee/Truancy Procedures

1.Teacher Aide to note phone calls re absent or late children in the Day Book.

Parents (no pupils) are encouraged to phone in absence notification before school

(Day Book kept on shelf in staffroom)

2.Teachers greet children and mark roll in classrooms.

3.Note absentees in Day Book. Tick child’s name where a note is produced or if a sibling explains the pupil’s absence.

4.Give Day Book to Teacher Aide who will ask all staff if they have received notification of absences and also check school answer-phone. Then phone the homes of the children whose absences have not been explained

5.Late children will be so noted in the Day Book - record actual time of arrival.

6. If attendance becomes an issue parents will be verbally notified that their child’s absence is

becoming a concern and we are monitoring this concern within school at this stage. Outline to

parents the reasons attendance is important – social isolation, academic disadvantage and

legalities of attendance.

7.If attendance is still a concern, send written advice to parents confirming the dates of all unjustified absences and requesting an explanation for such absences.

8.Attempt to meet the family if unjustified absences are not explained to the satisfaction of the school.

9.If attendance is of a serious concern that is impacting significantly on the learning, health or general well being of the pupil then contact Public Health Nurse and/or Child Youth and Family

10.On going attendance issues will be handed on to Otago Youth Wellness Trust once above procedures have been exhausted.

11.Details of school attendance will be sent through to OYW as required.

“Every Board shall, by any means it thinks appropriate, take all reasonable steps to ensure the attendance of students enrolled at its school or schools (or institution or institutions).”

DEFINITIONS OF ATTENDANCE, ABSENCE AND TRUANCY Justified absences (JA) are absences recorded in the register, and marked as having been satisfactorily explained. A school has to make a judgement as to which explanations they will accept. The basis for such judgements is a matter of school policy, and as such the balance of justified and unjustified absences may vary slightly from school to school. For example, most schools would probably determine that a student's sickness should be recorded as a justified absence while schools may vary in their judgement when parents take their child/ren overseas during school days. Unjustified absences (UA) are absences, which are not explained, or not explained to the satisfaction of the school. Intermittent unjustified absences (IUA) occur when a student is absent for part of a morning (or afternoon) or part of a period without justification. For example, a student who arrives 15 minutes late to school without a reason, or with a reason that is not acceptable to the principal would be recorded as an intermittently unjustified absence. Attendance/Absentee/Truancy Procedures 1.	Teacher Aide to note phone calls re absent or late children in the Day Book. Parents (no pupils) are encouraged to phone in absence notification before school (Day Book kept on shelf in staffroom) 2.	Teachers greet children and mark roll in classrooms. 3.	Note absentees in Day Book. Tick child’s name where a note is produced if a sibling explains the pupil’s absence. 4.	Give Day Book to Teacher Aide who will ask all staff if they have received notification of absences and also checking school answer-phone. Then phoning the homes of the children whose absences have not been explained 5.	Late children will be so noted in the Day Book - record actual time of arrival. 6.      	 If attendance becomes an issue parents will be verbally notified their child’s absence is becoming a concern and we are monitoring this concern within school at this stage. Outline to           	parents the reasons attendance is important – social isolation, academic disadvantage and legalities of attendance. 7.	If attendance is still a concern, send written advice to parents confirming the dates of all unjustified absences and requesting an explanation for such absences. 8.	Attempt to meet the family if unjustified absences are not explained to the satisfaction of the school. 9.	If attendance is of a serious concern that is impacting significantly on the learning, health or general well being of the pupil then contact Public Health Nurse and/or Child Youth and Family 10.	On going attendance issues will be handed on to Otago Youth Wellness Trust once above procedures have been exhausted. 11.	Details of school attendance will be sent through to OYW as required.

Principal:					Chairperson:

Signature:					Signature:

Date:						Date:

Amended: