Research shows that attendance at school all day and every day positively affects learning, wellbeing, employment and life outcomes for children and young people. Learning is cumulative and it is disrupted if students often miss school.
BPS Attendance Policy: BPS Attendance Policy (2)
School Attendance and the Law
Attendance at school is compulsory. The Education and Children’s Services Act 2019 states that all children must attend school from 6 until they turn 17. This could be in a school or an approved learning program. Parents or legal guardians (carers) can be prosecuted if they do not make sure their child goes to school. This can mean being fined or getting a criminal conviction.
The Department for Education Attendance Policy
The South Australian Department for Education’s Attendance Policy guides the responsibilities of the whole school community to make sure that children and young people attend school. This includes school staff, parents, carers and students.
Schools work with their community to develop positive attendance habits. This starts from the earliest years. They do this when they provide a safe, inclusive and culturally respectful environment. They use effective and consistent local practices to monitor and manage absences.
Students at Risk for Missing School
Students can be away from school for many reasons. Schools use categories to identify children and young people at risk. We make sure that appropriate follow up and support is provided.
- Habitual non-attendance: a student has 5 to 9 days absent in a term for any reason.
- Chronic non-attendance: a student has 10 or more days absent in a term for any reason.
You can email your child’s absence via this link: [email protected]
Exemption Form: EXEMPFORMC_2024 – to be completed for absences of 3 days or more.
Parent/Carer Responsibility
Informing school about your child’s absence:
- Children must arrive at school between 8.30am and 8.50am
- It is essential the school is notified either by phone/School Stream or email of your child’s absence and the reason for it before 9am
- If you are unable to notify the school in advance, send an email covering the days missed when your child returns (see below)
For children with three or more consecutive days of absence, parents should provide the following:
- Doctors certificate in the event of illness
- Exemption form ie; for family travel – this must be principal approved before taking the period of leave
These forms are available via the school website, School Stream or front office.
When your child is late for school (after 8.50am siren) it is a requirement that the child reports to the front office to sign the electronic late register. Younger students may require a parent to accompany themChildren who require early departure must be signed out electronically via the front office by a parent/careprovider
School Procedures
Schools and preschools work with parents to encourage attendance and participation:
- Text message system to alert families of a child’s non attendance without notification
- Contact the parent/careprovider when three consecutive days without notification are recorded
- Data collection and report systems will be monitored to track individual student attendance. This will ensure timely identification and provision of support to children at risk of chronic non-attendance
- Staff communicate to share information regarding absence, eg: front office staff with class teachers, specialist teachers with class teachers
Develop strategies to resolve attendance difficulties - Provide a safe, success orientated and caring environment
- Provide relevant learning programs for all students
- Attendance data of days absent and days late is included in semester 1 and 2 reports
Student absences can be sent in School Stream via FORMS/ABSENTEE FORM
Student Attendance is monitored every day through the front office
Parents/Caregivers are requested to notify the school when your child/ren are going to be absent. We require a brief explanation, for absence eg; sickness or family reasons by calling the school on 83317512 (press 1 to leave a message) or email [email protected]
This information is critical in ensuring all students are accounted for as student safety and well being is a high priority.
Teachers mark their Roll by 9.00am online every morning and the attendance of students is monitored. A school staff member collates the information and you will receive a text phone message if your child is not at school. Please contact the school following this message to notify the school as to a reason for child’s absence.
Students who arrive late to school (after 8.50am)
All students will be required to record their late arrival time in the front office. Students who are late are to go to the front office area and sign in. Leadership staff will regularly check the late arrival book to monitor patterns and work with families. Punctuality is important and along with attendance is recorded in student reports.
Collecting children from school for appointments etc during school times (8.50 – 3.00pm)
Parents/Careproviders are requested to report to the front office, collect an ‘electronic sign out’ permission slip, take the slip to the class teacher/non contact teacher, who will allow the child to leave their class. No student will be allowed to leave the classroom without a permission slip. If a class is not in their usual room, there will be a notice on the door explaining where they can be located or see staff in the front office.
Student Absence of 3 days or more
If your child/ren are going to be absent for 3 days or more, an exemption form must be completed. All exemptions must be principal approved.
EXEMPTION FORM:
BPS Exemption FormC
Student Absence for SA School Sport, District & Knockout Sporting Programs
Please advise the school via the above processes if your child is attending SAPSASA Knockout or SAPSASA District (Alice Lange) Sporting Programs
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