Why your child's attendance and participation is essential at Hinterland
The law in NSW (Education Act 1990) states that all children between the ages of six and seventeen years (some exemptions apply for students 16 – 17 years of age) are required to attend school regularly.It is the responsibility of parents or caregivers to make sure that their children attend school every day. A typical school day starts with roll call at 8.50am (Secondary) and9.00am (Primary) and finishes at 2.50pm. Supervision is provided from 8:15am.
YES. It is your responsibility to send your child to school every day. If your child is absent from school, you must bring in a written explanation as soon as you send the child back to school. Our rolls are legal documents and if this explanation is not received within 14 days of the absence, the absence is permanently recorded as being unexplained and cannot legally be changed.
There are very few ‘good’, or legitimate, reasons for keeping your child away from school. Your explanation must be specific (not simply "family reasons" or "personal reasons"), and will only be considered satisfactory if:
It is not however, acceptable to keep your child away from school for activities such as: birthdays, pension days, shopping, minding other children, hair cuts, unauthorized holidays etc.
YES. Sport and other exercise help the healthy physical development of children.Sport is part of normal school activity which students must attend.If your child is unable to attend their sport for sick or injury reasons a note is to be provided explaining the relevant problem and handed to the teacher at the start of the day. The teacher will advise the student of the arrangements for that day. Students are not given permission to go home.
Attending school every day makes learning easier for your child and helps build and maintain friendships with other children. If students miss the basic skills in the early years of school, they may have problems later on. Regular attendance at school will help your child to succeed in later life.
ATTENDANCE POLICY & PROCEDURES Reviewed on: 28/02/2019.
Families should try to arrange holidays during school vacation periods. If you can only arrange your family holiday during school time, you should inform the school principal in advance and request permission for your child to be absent. You can ask the school to provide homework that can be completed while your child is absent.Given sufficient time, the teacher/s involved can usually arrange this.
It is important to let the school know when your child will be away and why your child is absent.
The parent or caregiver should telephone the school or provide a written note addressed to the school explaining the child’s absence.
If your child has to leave school during the day, you must send them in with a signed note clearly stating the child’s name, Year, reason for the absence, times of departure and expected return. Primary students must give this note to their teacher, then be signed out at the Office by a parent/carer. Secondary students must first see a Secondary Coordinator (preferably in a break) with their note to collect a yellow slip, then take the slip to the Office at the arranged time and sign out.
The details of students arriving late to school are also recorded in the rolls. If your child is late to school, it is your responsibility to send in a written explanation for the lateness. The student will have to sign the late book in the office and hand in the note from home.
You should contact the principal as soon as possible to discuss the problem and ask for help. The principal may ask a Home School Liaison Officer to contact you to discuss the issue.
We seek your support in helping your child to gain the greatest benefit from their education and developing good attitudes and practices in terms of meeting their responsibilities.
