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Epping Boys High School

Epping Boys High School

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Telephone02 9869 2701

Emaileppingboy-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

New Attendance Policies 2015 - What are my responsibilities as a parent?

As a parent with a child of school age, it is important to understand the legal responsibilities and policy guidelines around ensuring your child's attendance at school.

A number of updated policies were published at the beginning of 2015. These policies outline the responsibilities of parents, teachers, the principal and other support agencies, in making sure that all students attend school. Lack of attendance can have a huge impact on students' learning.

What are the responsibilities of parents?

  • To ensure that if they have a child of compulsory school age, that they are enrolled in a government or registered non-government school or registered with the Board Of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards (BOSTES) for home schooling.
  • To ensure that their children attend every day the school is open for instruction.
  • To provide an explanation for absences to the school within 7 days from the first day of any period of absence by either telephone, email, a written note or a text message.
  • To work in partnership with the school to plan and implement strategies to support their children's regular attendance at school. This includes communicating with the school if they are aware of issues impacting on their child's attendance or engagement at school.

One area that has changed in the new policy is exemptions, particularly exemptions as they relate to travelling on a family holiday during school time. Family holidays and travel are no longer considered under the "Exemption from School - Procedures". An "Application for Extended Leave-Travel" must be completed by the parent/guardian and submitted to the Principal who will consider the application if it is in the best interest of the student. If approved a "Certificate of Extended Leave-Travel" will be issued. Travel documentation should be attached to the application.

Changes to the Attendance Codes have been made, especially in the area of what constitutes a justifiable absence. Please refer to the Department of Education's website for the new Attendance Policies.

http://www.eppingboy-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/our-school/attendance-absences.

When you get to this page you will be able to select links to the DEC NSW policies related to Attendance.