Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to
- ensure all children of compulsory school age are enrolled in a registered school and attend school every day the school is open for instruction
- ensure students, staff and parents/carers have a shared understanding of the importance of attending school
- explain to school staff and parents the key practices and procedures Leongatha Secondary College has in place to
- support, monitor and maintain student attendance
- record, monitor and follow up student absences.
Scope
This policy applies to all students at Leongatha Secondary College.
This policy should be read in conjunction with the Department of Education and Training’s School Attendance Guidelines. It does not replace or change the obligations of Leongatha Secondary College, parents and College Attendance Officers under legislation or the College Attendance Guidelines.
Definition
Parent – includes a guardian and every person who has parental responsibility for the child, including parental responsibility under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and any person with whom a child normally or regularly resides.
Policy
Schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6 to 17 years (unless an exemption from attendance or enrolment has been granted).
Daily attendance is important for all children and young people to succeed in education and to ensure they do not fall behind both socially and developmentally. School participation maximises life opportunities for children and young people by providing them with education and support networks. School helps people to develop important skills, knowledge and values that set them up for further learning and participation in their community.
Students are expected to attend Leongatha Secondary College during normal school hours every day of each term unless:
- there is an approved exemption from school attendance for the student
- the student has a dual enrolment with another school and has only a partial enrolment in Leongatha Secondary College, or
- the student is registered for home schooling and has only a partial enrolment in Leongatha Secondary College for particular activities.
Both schools and parents have an important role to play in supporting students to attend school every day.
Leongatha Secondary College believes all students should attend school all day, every day when the school is open for instruction and is committed to working with its school community to encourage and support full school attendance.
Our College will identify individual students or cohorts who are vulnerable and whose attendance is at risk and/or declining and will work with these students and their parents to improve their attendance through a range of interventions and supports.
Students are committed to attending school every day, arriving on time and are prepared to learn. Our students are encouraged to approach a teacher and seek assistance if there are any issues that are affecting their attendance.
Leongatha Secondary College parents are committed to ensuring their child/children attend school on time every day when instruction is offered, to communicating openly with the College and providing valid explanations for any absence.
Parents will communicate with the relevant staff at Leongatha Secondary College about any issues affecting their child’s attendance and work in partnership with the College to address any concerns.
Parents will provide a reasonable explanation for their child’s absence from school and endeavour to schedule family holidays, appointments and other activities outside of school hours.
Supporting and promoting attendance
Leongatha Secondary College’s Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy supports student attendance.
Students attendance is monitored closely, and families are contacted if issues are identified for individual students. We also positively promote attendance through our Attendance Awards that are awarded to students who have recorded 100% accounted for attendance for a whole Term.
Our College also promotes student attendance by offering breakfast club and lunchtime activities.
Recording attendance
Leongatha Secondary College must record attendance in every class. This is necessary to:
- meet legislative requirements
- discharge Leongatha Secondary College’s duty of care for all students
- meet Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority requirements for VCE students
Attendance will be recorded by the classroom teacher at the start of each period using Compass.
If students are in attendance at a College approved activity, the teacher in charge of the activity will record them as being present.
Recording absences
For absences where there is no exemption in place, a parent must provide an explanation on each occasion to the school.
Parents should notify Leongatha Secondary College of absences by:
- putting an approved attendance note on Compass
If a student is absent on a particular day and the school has not been previously notified by a parent, or the absence is otherwise unexplained, Leongatha Secondary College will notify parents by SMS notification.
Leongatha Secondary College will keep a record of the reason given for each absence.
Acceptable reasons for absences could include:
- medical and dental appointments, where out of hours appointments are not possible or appropriate
- bereavement or attendance at the funeral of a relative or friend of the student, including a student required to attend Sorry Business
- school refusal, if a plan is in place with the parent to address causes and support the student’s return to school
- cultural observance if the parent/carer notifies the school in advance
- family holidays where the parent notifies the school in advance
Managing non-attendance and supporting student engagement
Where absences are of concern due to their nature or frequency, or where a student has been absent for more than five days, Leongatha Secondary College will work collaboratively with parents, the student, and other professionals, where appropriate, to develop strategies to improve attendance, including:
- establishing an Attendance Student Support Group
- implementing a Return to School Plan
- implementing an Individual Education Plan
- implementing a Student Absence Learning Plan for students who will be absent for an extended period
- arranging for assistance from relevant student Wellbeing officer/Year Level Co-ordinator, Sub-school leader.
We understand from time to time that some students will need additional support and assistance, and in collaboration with the student and their family, will endeavour to provide this support when it is required.
Referral to School Attendance Officer
If Leongatha Secondary College decides that it has exhausted strategies for addressing a student’s unsatisfactory attendance, we may, in accordance with the School Attendance Guidelines refer the non-attendance to a School Attendance Officer in the South East Victoria Region (SEVR) for further action.
If, from multiple attempts to contact with a parent, it becomes apparent that a student will not be returning to the school, the Principal may make a referral to a School Attendance Officer if:
- the student has been absent from school on at least five full days where:
- the parent has not provided a reasonable excuse for these absences; and
- measures to improve the student’s attendance have been undertaken and have been unsuccessful
- the student’s whereabouts are unknown and:
- the student has been absent for 10 consecutive school days; or
- no alternative education destination can be found for the student.
Further information and resources
- School Attendance Guidelines
- School Policy and Advisory Guide: Attendance
- School intranet