Under the Education Act 1990 (NSW), it is the legal duty of a parent of a child of compulsory school age to ensure the child:

(a) is enrolled at, and attends, a government school or a registered non-government school; or

(b) is registered for homeschooling with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and receives instruction in accordance with the registration conditions.

Parents are responsible for:

• Communicating Attendance Concerns: Informing the school of any concerns they have regarding their child’s attendance pattern.
• Partnering with the School: Collaborating with the school to develop and implement strategies that support their child’s regular attendance.
• Explaining Absences: Providing an explanation to the school for any absence within seven calendar days of the first day of the absence. The primary method by which a parent may provide an explanation is through Compass. Verbal explanations and emails are also accepted.
• Notifying Extended Absences: Giving the school reasonable advance notice of any planned extended absence.
• Requesting Exemptions: Providing the school with reasonable advance notice when requesting an exemption from enrolment or attendance.
• Providing Documentation: Promptly supplying any documentation requested by the school related to their child’s attendance or enrolment.

Attendance Levels

New attendance levels have been established to address students’ attendance patterns:

• Regular Attendance: 90% – 100%
• Targeted Intervention: 71% – 89%
• Intensive Intervention: 70% and below

Travel-Related Absences

For extended absences due to travel, parents must submit the Notification of Extended Absence form along with relevant travel documentation. This documentation should include: Dates, locations of travel, Purpose and reasons for travel outside school holidays.

Acknowledgement of Extended Absence

After considering the explanation for the extended absence, the school will issue an Acknowledgement of Extended Absence to the parent, regardless of whether the explanation for the absence is accepted or not accepted by the Principal. The acknowledgment may include agreed matters relating to the student’s learning and well-being. Accepted extended absences will be recorded as explained and Unaccepted absences will be recorded as unjustified. Please note that Travel is not an accepted absence.