ADMISSION POLICY

Interpretation

 In this policy any expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the National Education Policy Act, 1996 (Act No. 27 of 1996) and the South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996), has that meaning.

The Head of School refers to the Director and/ or Principal of the School.

 

Administration of admissions

Admissions to the School opens on the 1st September 2018. The closing dates for submission will be on the 31st October 2018. A second date for submission may be re-opened if necessary.

 

Application forms may be collected at Little Marbles Montessori or at Archies Cash and Carry. Forms are to be collected at returned during working hours:

Monday to Friday: 7h00 to 17h00.

 

The School is a growing private institution and as such may only accommodate for a certain number of learners. Acceptance to the School will be as follows:

Current Little Marbles Grade R learners will automatically be accepted upon submission of the application forms and the relevant documentation.

Thereafter, learners who have a brother or sister at the School will be considered flowed by learners staying within the Marble Hall district and attending day cares in town will be considered.

This will be followed by applicants from neighbouring towns.

 

A child applying for grade 1 must be turning seven years of age in the year that he/she wishes to be in that grade. A child may in certain cases, be allowed into the grade at a younger age based on academic and social performances, however, may not take the place of any child of grade 1 going age at the School.

 

 

 

Documents required for admission of a learner

 

A parent must attach the following:

 

A complete application form for the School for admission, which will  be made available to you by the principal of the school together with the admission policy and the code of conduct for learners of the school as well as the School Constitution.

An official Birth Certificate of the child

An up-to-date immunisation card

Transfer Card (if the learner if transferring from another school)

Copy of the last report issued to the child (should the child be transferred from another school)

Copy of Parent’s I.D that is responsible for payment.

Proof of residence

Completed indemnity form

 

No child will be admitted to the School with any of the above documents being outstanding.

 

Admission of non-citizens

 

The South African Schools Act, 1996 and this policy apply equally to learners who are not citizens of the Republic of South Africa and whose parents are in possession of a permit for temporary or permanent residence issued by the Department of Home Affairs.

 

A learner who entered the country on a study permit must present the study permit on admission to the School.

 

Persons classified as illegal aliens must, when they apply for admission for their children or for themselves, show evidence that they have applied to the Department of Home Affairs to legalise their stay in the country in terms of the Aliens Control Act, 1991 (No. 96 of 1991).

Learners with special education needs

 

The rights and wishes of learners with special education needs will be taken into account at the admission of the learners and these learners may be admitted to the School where this is reasonably practical. The School will make the necessary arrangements, as far as practically possible, to make their facilities accessible to such learners.

 

Where the necessary support which would facilitate the integration of a learner in a particular educational context, cannot be provided, the principal of the school may insist on the child receiving additional classes in order to allow the child to bridge the gap between him and his grade level.

 

 

Age requirements for the admission of a learner to an ordinary public school or different grades of a school

 

Learners are to be admitted to the School and placed in different grades in the school according to Government Notice No.    of     1998.

The following forms a method of determining your child’s grade:

Grade RR- turning 5 years old in that year

Grade R- turning 6 years old in that year

Grade 1- turning 7 years old in that year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repetition

 

A learner who has repeated one or more years at school in terms of this policy is exempt from the age grade norm, except that, if a learner is three years older than the norm age per grade, the Head of Department must determine whether the learner will be admitted to that grade.

 

In principle, learners should progress with their age cohort.  Repetition of grades seldom results in significant increases in learning attainment and frequently has the opposite result.  The norm for repetition is one year per school phase where necessary.  Multiple repetition in one grade is not permissible.

 

The norm is not to be construed as promoting the practice of automatic promotion.  A learner’s needs must be attended to through the efforts of the learner, and his or her teachers, with support from the learner’s family and peers.

 

 

Right of application

 

Rights of admission and rejection lies solely with the Head of School and the governing body. Rights of admissions will non-discriminatory in all regards.

 

A learner is admitted to the total school programme and may not (for the first three months of the following offences) be suspended from classes, denied access to cultural, sporting or social activities of the school, denied a school report or transfer certificates, or otherwise victimised on the grounds that his or her parent -

 

is unable to pay or has not paid the required school fees;

does not subscribe to the mission statement and code of conduct of the school; or

has refused to enter into a contract in terms of which the parent waives any claim for damages arising out of the education of the learner.

 

After 3 consecutive months of non-payment from a parent, the head of School may be allowed to dismiss the child from the School.

 

The governing body of the School may or may not administer any test relating to the admission of a learner to the School, or direct or authorise the principal of the school or any person to administer such a test. Where placement in a specific course or programme, e.g. technical field of study, dance or music, is required and where it would be in the educational interest of a learner, he or she may be requested by the

 

Head of Department to undertake a suitable test to assist a placement decision.

 

The name of a learner must be removed from a school’s admission register when the learner-

 

applies for a transfer to another school and the transfer is effected;

is expelled from school; or (c) dies.

 

If a learner of compulsory school going age fails to attend school, the Head of Department may act in terms of section 3(5) and (6) of the South African Schools Act, 1996.

 

1)  “parent” means-

the parent or guardian of a learner;

the person legally entitled to custody of a learner;  or

the person who undertakes to fulfil the obligations of a person referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) towards the learner’s education at school.

 

 

 

Register of admission

 

The principal of the School will keep a register of admission to the school.  All admissions of learners to the school must be recorded in the register of admission.  The register must contain the name, date of birth, age, identity number, if applicable, and address of the learner as well as the names of the learner’s parents as defined in the South African Schools Act, 1996 (see footnote 1) and their addresses and telephone numbers, where applicable.

 

Entries in the register of admission must be verified against the birth certificate or identity document of the learner concerned.

 

Officials of the provincial education department must have access to the register of admission.

 

 

Rights and obligations of parents

 

The governing body of a school must inform all parents of learners admitted to a school of their rights and obligations in terms of the South African Schools Act, 1996, any applicable provincial law.  Parents must specifically be informed about their rights and obligations in respect to the governance and affairs of the school, including the process of deciding the school budget, any decision of a parent meeting relating to school fees, and the Code of Conduct for Learners

 

Parents have an obligation to support their children to attend school regularly.

 

 

•  Annual leave and occupational sick leave will be in accordance with the relevant conditions of service for teachers and support staff.

•  Other leave of absence will normally be on an unpaid basis, unless otherwise specified.

•  All leave allowances should be applied pro rata to an employee’s contracted hours, unless otherwise stated.

•  The operational needs of the school will be paramount and, except in emergency circumstances, adequate notice of a request for leave of absence must be given.

•  The responsibility for exercising discretion on behalf of the Governing Body is the Headteacher’s, in accordance with the professional duties defined in the School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document.

•  Any dispute or grievance about a request for leave of absence or payment during leave of absence will be dealt with through the Schools Grievance Procedure; there is no right of appeal to a leave request being declined.

•  All requests for leave must be submitted to provide the school with reasonable notice.

•  It should not be assumed approval has been given until a response has been provided by the Headteacher.

•  Where the request for leave concerns the Headteacher requests should be made to the Chair of Governors.

Annual Leave Entitlement for Employees

For support staff contracted to work for 52 weeks’ per year, the leave entitlement is dependent on grade and continuous Local Government service.

This leave will normally be taken during the school holidays and must be agreed with the Principal in reasonable time, prior to the leave being taken. Only in exceptional circumstances and with the express consent of the principal, can leave be taken at other times.

 

Staff will not be permitted to take leave during the term unless express consent from the Principal has been given.

 

 If leave is granted, this will be unpaid as a substitute teacher will have to be brought to stand in on your particular day. All employees should make partners aware that as a rule time off in term time will not be granted to avoid costs incurred from the cancellation of surprise holidays for birthdays or anniversaries.

 

Teachers’ Working Time

A Teacher employed full-time must be available for work for 195 days’ in any school year. 190 of those days must be days of which he/she may be required to teach pupils and perform other duties and 5 days’ must be days on which he/she may only be required to perform other duties. The same applies for a teacher employed part-time, except the number of hours he/she must be available for work must be a proportion of full-time hours. In addition to the hours a teacher is required to be available for work, he/she must work such reasonable additional hours as may be necessary to enable him/her to discharge effectively his/her professional duties.

 

Special Occasional Leave of Absence

Leave for special occasion will be given for one day. Additional days may be taken with the express permission of the principal and such leave will be unpaid as a substitute teacher will need to be arranged for the day in the foundation phase.

 

Disability Leave (only applicable to support staff employed on the HCC Collective Agreement terms and conditions)

For support staff employees who have declared to their employer a disability as defined by the Equalities Act 2010, up to 5 days’ paid disability leave may be granted (pro rata for part time employees).

Reasons for using disability leave might include:

• Attending a doctor’s or complementary medicine practitioner’s appointments

• Assessment for conditions such as dyslexia

 • Hearing aid tests

• Training with guide or hearing dog

 • Counselling/ therapeutic treatment or recovery time after blood transfusion or dialysis

 • Treatment for physiotherapy (sessional or residential) Disability leave may not be used to cover an absence due to ill health.

 

Time off for a sick child or dependant

Absence to care for a sick child or dependant will be unpaid. In exceptional circumstances compassionate, emergency or exceptional leave may be used for the first day of absence only. This would typically relate to the hospitalisation of the child.

 

    Compassionate, Emergency or Exceptional Leave

Noting the provision set out in 4.2, emergency and discretionary leave enables employees to take time off work to deal with an unexpected or sudden emergency involving a dependant. The leave is to deal with the immediate issues and to sort out long term arrangements if necessary.

The circumstances that enable employees to take emergency and discretionary leave are:

• Providing assistance where a dependant falls seriously ill, gives birth, is injured or assaulted

• Making arrangements for the care of the dependant who is seriously ill or injured.

• The death of a dependant

. • The care of the dependant has unexpectedly been disrupted or terminated.

• There is an unexpected incident involving the child of an employee whilst at school.

 

A dependant is a spouse, child, foster child, parent, relative or partner living in the same household as the employee (it excludes tenants, lodgers or boarders of the employee). A dependant also includes any person who reasonably relies on the employee to make arrangements for the provision of their care, e.g. partner who does not co-habit.

 

Leave to attend funerals is limited to the funeral of an immediate family member of the employee only (parents, a spouse, sibling, grandparent or child).

An employee must notify their line manager as soon as practically possible in the event of an emergency. The Principal may approve up to five days’ paid leave per leave year (pro rata for part timers) for emergency and discretionary leave.

 

For most cases, one or two days are reasonable to deal with a problem. The time off is to enable an employee to cope with a crisis, to deal with the immediate care and where necessary to make longer term Leave of Absence Policy June 2015 4 care arrangements for the dependant. Where paid leave is granted only the first day of absence will usually be paid in any one period of absence, unless discretion is applied by the Headteacher.

 

 4.4  Other personal reasons

Exceptionally, there may be other personal reasons for requesting leave of absence. Usually these will be one off events affecting family. An example might be attendance at a child’s graduation ceremony. Such leave, where granted, will normally be unpaid and subject to adequate notice so that replacement staff can be employed if necessary.

 

Holidays to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and such like are not considered to be one off.

 

4.5  Career Break/Extended leave of absence

Requests for longer periods of leave will be considered on an unpaid basis, for example, in the case of a lengthy period of caring for a chronically sick, disabled, or terminally ill, dependent relative. Extended leave can be for up to a year in duration. Sufficient notice that allows the appointment of a replacement should be given wherever possible. Further guidance on Career Breaks is set out in appendix 2.

 

4.6  Moving house

Up to 2 days’ unpaid leave will be granted.

 

4.7  Carry-over of annual leave

NO Carry over of leave will be awarded at Little Marbles Montessori School.

 

4.8 Religious Festivals

 Where staff can show that they are bona fide adherents of any organised religion and that they require leave for the purpose of an official holy day, the Governing Body will allow up to 1 days paid leave and therafter,leave will be unpaid.

 

Maternity, Paternity, Adoption Carers Leave and Antenatal care

Little Marbles Montessori will provide leave for such circumstances and such leave will be unpaid as currently the school cannot afford to past for two employers.

 

 

4.10      Sporting Events

Where staff can show they are representing their country they should write to the Principal so that arrangements can be made for paid or unpaid leave.

 

4.11  Study/Examination Leave

For employees who are sitting examinations relevant to their current post or career, educators will be given half a day leave the day prior to the exam and the full day leave on the day of the exam. This leave may be paid or unpaid leave at the discretion of the principal and depending on the number of exams written.

 

4.12  Bad weather conditions

Non-attendance due to bad weather will be unpaid leave as work cannot be done from home.

4.13 Time off for medical appointments

The school will allow reasonable paid time-off for employees to attend medical appointments, which are unable to be arranged out of working hours. Before arranging non-urgent doctor’s medical appointments, employees should seek the approval of their Headteacher if it is necessary to take time off work. Employees should make every attempt to make these appointments at the end of the day, after lunch to minimise the time they have to be absent from work. Routine doctors or dentists appointments e.g. check-ups should not be taken during term time or working time for those working in holiday periods.

Elective procedures should be arranged during holiday periods and will usually be unpaid.

 

 

This document has been adopted by the Governing Body, as the basis for the administration and management of finances.

 

The aim of the policy is to create a framework within which individual members of staff, Governors and other interested parties, can exercise financial management and stewardship in an efficient and effective way.

 

School Fees

 School fees are determined annually when the budget has been approved by the parents at a meeting held usually between October and November of each year

 The payment of school fees is compulsory

 Parents are to sign the Acceptance of School Fees declaration stating that they accept the school fees and choose their payment option.

 School fees are payable in advance, however the school does allow for 2     methods of payment as follows:

o Payments made in full before the end of January for the full year will entitle parents to a discount – the percentage discount will decided by the Governing Body.

o Eleven equal payments starting in January and must be paid in full by 7th of November (not limiting the parent to settle before this date). Any further assistance must be directed to the school’s financial administrator.

Payments can be paid in cash at the school; by debit order or direct deposit into our banking account

 If a learner is admitted to the school during the year, the parent will be responsible for payment of fees for the remainder of the year

 Statements reflecting balances due will be sent to parents once a term.

 Aftercare, music and Grade R classes are voluntary. They do not form part of the school program so these costs are additional. No discount or exemption can be claimed for these.

 School outings and fun days are not part of the school program and carry extra costs.

 

 Exemption of School Fees.

As we are a private school, the school relies solely on school fees for the running of the entire facility. As such, the school is not at libility to offer bursaries at this stage.

 

Recovery of School Fees

 Reminders will be sent to parents who have not kept payments up to date in writing

 Parents are to put any payment plans in writing and address them to the Governing Body

 The Governing Body will inform parents concerned of their decision in writing

 Final written warnings must be written to parents who do not respond

 Parents who not respond to the warning within 14 days will be handed over for legal action

 Parents are liable for any legal costs

 The Governing Body has decreed that should a learner be outstanding with school fees, then those learners may not participate in any extra mural activities or school outings, occasions given at school which costs extra money, ie. Horse-riding, music, swimming, etc until school fees

 

Reimbursement of School Fees

  No re-imbursement of School fees will be made if a parent chooses to remove their child at the own consent during the course of the year.

 

Administration

 

 The Governing Body aims to achieve best value for money from all its purchases and has established procedures for testing the market, placing of orders and paying for goods and services in accordance with financial regulations.

 Verbal competitive quotations will be obtained for expenditure unless the amount exceeds R7 000.00 then at least three written competitive quotations will be obtained. The financial administrator has delegated authority to accept the lowest quotations, without compromising on quality, for all expenditure below R7 000.00.

 All documentation relating to finances must be filed by the financial administrator

 The School is not allowed to open up accounts for furniture and expenditure. Expenses for the School must be paid in cash so as not to weigh the School down with creditors. Purchases during the month may be made and those accounts may be settled duly within the course of the month upon receipt of school fees in cash at the School. This also controls large amounts of cash being left overnight at the School.

 A Purchase Requisition must be filled in for purchases needing to be paid, the requisition must be signed by the person responsible for the budget and then by the principal before being handed over to the financial administrator for payment.

 When making an EFT payment the financial administrator must create a batch on the banking system, process payments, print out the batch and then authorise the batch. When this has been done, the payment batch goes to the principal who will then do the final authorising of the batch.

 All cheque payments and EFT payments will be filed in the month the payment of was made and a summary of the month’s purchases will be in the front of each month

 Bank reconciliations are done from the internet bank statements on a regular basis and then filed. When the statements arrive at the end of each month they must be filed in the banking file.

 All receipts, payments, journals etc must be done on a regular basis.

 

Organisation of Responsibility and Accountability

 The Governing Body recognises the importance of clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of its committees, the financial administrator and other staff.

The Governing Body will decide how to spend the budget allocated and funds must be spent for the sole purpose of the school.

 The financial administrator is responsible to the Governing Body for ensuring the effective operation of the finance function.

The financial administrator will ensure that :-

(i) the roles of each member of staff are clearly defined and the duties of staff concerned with financial transactions will as far as is practicable be distributed to ensure that key tasks are assigned to separate members of staff and that appropriate systems of internal check exist;

(ii) systems are in place to ensure that financial control is maintained at all times including procedures in the absence of key staff;

(iii) appropriate documentation and records of transactions are maintained to specified standards

(iv) The Governing Body recognises the importance of protecting computerised management systems and data held within them and will approve procedures to achieve this objective. 6. Meeting for Financial Committee

 Meetings to be held at least once a term

 Minutes are to be kept

 

Budget Management

To allow effective financial management of resources an annual revenue budget will be prepared. This shall be prepared in a timely manner and in sufficient detail to allow regular meaningful budget monitoring of the school budget and reporting to take place.

 

 The financial administrator is responsible for preparing the annual revenue budget in sufficient detail for the effective management of the available funds by the Governing Body which is responsible for ensuring that total forecast expenditure does not exceed the available funds. To ensure this can be done, the financial administrator will provide reports to the financial committee and to the Governing Body.

As a minimum standard the Governors shall expect to see :-

 The statement should show a comparison of expenditure to the approved budget. Expenditure should be broken down into those sums actually spent, sums already committed and amounts of expenditure which are planned but to which the school is not yet committed. The statements should show, as accurately as possible, the forecast year end position.

 Notes should accompany financial statements providing details of major variations and highlighting areas of uncertainty.

 It is essential that reports produced are accurate as far as is reasonably possible. The financial administrator is responsible for ensuring that quality controls are in place so that reports are of a sound standard. Staff responsible for the production of financial reports must ensure they take appropriate steps to guarantee the reliability of the information.

 The financial administrator may delegate elements of the budget to staff where this is appropriate. These budget holders must operate within the same objectives and controls as those agreed for the school as a whole. Delegated budget holders within the school will be provided with sufficient information to enable them to perform adequate monitoring and control. Such budget holders are to be accountable to the financial administrator who is responsible for ensuring mechanisms exist to enable such delegated budgets to be monitored.

 The governing body, financial committee and the financial administrator will periodically review the provision of financial information to ensure that what is provided remains appropriate.

 Each pre-defined manager draws up their own budget together with the help of the whole team. The budget must be in order of priority

 The budget must be in line with provincial guidelines indicating income and expenditure

 The budget must be aligned to the School Improvement Plan

 The budget to be submitted to the principal for verification

 The budget will then be referred to the financial committee

 The total budget will be presented to the governing body for provisional approval

 A circular must be sent to parents 30 days before the budget meeting – this circular must also state that the budget is available for perusal in the office prior to the meeting

 The proposed budget must be available for scrutiny 14 days prior to the budget meeting

 At the budget meeting with parents the following must occur:

 

  Attendance register must be kept

  Minutes of the previous year’s budget meeting to be read

  Presentation of the new budget

 Feedback from parents

  A resolution must be passed on the new amount of school fees as per Sect 38 and 39 (1 and 2) of the South African Schools’ Act as well as the criteria and procedures for total, partial and conditional exemption. Minutes of the meeting must record the resolution and voting results

  Acceptance of budget

 Each manager must monitor the funds of their allocated budget

 The financial committee representative must report on the financial situation at each governing body meeting

 Any urgent expenditure must be handled by the management committee/governing body 8. Submission of Financial Statements

 Statements must be compiled within 3 months after the end of the financial year

 The appointed auditors must audit all statements

 The audited financial statements must be submitted to the WCED within 6 months after the financial year end

 

 Payment of Salaries

The Governing Body will approve annually policies relating to the payment of salaries, honoraria, gratuities and other emoluments, and will ensure systems are in place to allow all payroll transactions to be processed correctly and only through a Payroll system.

 Salaries are to be paid by the 25th of each month

 Bonuses will be paid according to the financial position of the school. The School does not currently have bonuses offered, however, this will be up for discussion each year based on the financial position of the School as it grows.

 Temporary staff will be paid per day at the rate decided yearly by the governing body

Appropriate statutory duties as required by legislation must be made timeously

Proper recording keeping must take place. Relevant documentation must be issued each year and the reconciliation submitted to SARS within the prescribed period

 

 Transit of Money

 No large amounts of cash are permitted to be kept at the School under Any circumstances. These amounts should be banked immediately or used to settle monthly accounts

 The insurance company must be contacted if we are planning to have any outside function (the hockey day for example) outside of the school premises

Money is to be banked as often as possible in order to alleviate large sums of money on the premises

 10. Petty Cash

 The governing body authorised an amount of R1000.00 to be used as petty cash.

 The secretary will keep control of the petty cash, monies spent will be   written up on a petty cash voucher.

The vouchers will be recorded onto an expense control sheet.

 Once funds have been spent, this control sheet together with the supporting vouchers must be handed over to the financial administrator who will then process the documentation and then reimburse the petty cash.

 

11. Receipt of Monies / Receipts

 

 Parents are requested to place money into a sealed envelope and write on the envelope how much is inside and what the payment is for.

Parents must send a message to the school whatsapp number indicating that school fees has been brought in cash to the school or whether it has been paid via EFT.

 Each morning all learners must come to the office when called with any monies so that receipts can be issued

 Receipts are then issued and must be written in ink

 All receipt books must be coded and kept in numerical order

 If a receipt has been cancelled – do not remove the receipt from the book

 Duplication of the receipt must be made via receipt books.

  No cheques are allowed as payment for fees.

 Specify the person paying in the money and what it is meant for

 All receipts must be entered into the cashbook on a computerised financial program

 A line must be drawn under the last receipt which is going to be included in the amount which is to be banked

 The amount in the receipt book must correspond to the deposit slip in the deposit book

 

 

 

 

12. Letting of Assets

 A person who wishes to hire moveable items from the school must sign the register when the item is collected and returned.

 The school must be indemnified from any claims

 

Fundraising

 All fundraising done by the PTA must be reported to the management of the school .

 There must be at least two PTA members present to collect and count monies which have been raised.

 The PTA will then complete a deposit slip, bring it to the office and hand over to the secretary who will make sure that the banking gets done. The deposit slip will then be filed for processing by the financial administrator.

 

Stock Control of Sports Clothes and Inventory of School Assets

 

 The financial administrator must keep a record on a computerised financial program of all sports clothes stock

 All departmental managers have their own inventory lists of school assets which need to be updated and checked regularly and then handed to the auditors yearly. Copies of this must be submitted to the financial administrator as well.

 

Writing off and Disposing of Assets

Should the school wish to dispose of any assets, they must get consent from the governing body

 

 

Policy On Attendance And Absenteeism

Latecomers

Latecomers must report to reception. A late note will be issued to the learner who must show this to the relevant subject teacher in that lesson of arrival. The subject teacher in that lesson must indicate the date and time of arrival in class and sign the late note. The learner must hand the note to the register teacher at the end of the day. The register teacher will complete the daily Class Register accordingly. The absentee secretary will email a list of absentees to staff by the first break of each day.

Absenteeism

When a learner is absent, a note explaining why the learner was absent must be handed to the register teacher immediately upon return to school.

The absentee letter will be filed by the teacher in the class register file.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) may email the register teacher the reason for the absence.

A medical certificate must be provided if a learner misses a standardized test, an examination or a test contributing to the year mark as well for being absent for 3 consecutive days or more. The certificate must state the actual dates on which the learner was absent.

Cancellation of a Learner’s Record in a Class Register

Cancellation of a learner’s record in a class register is an administrative action, not a disciplinary action. It is not the same as suspension or expulsion in terms of section 9 of SASA.

A learner’s record in a class register may be cancelled for one of the following reasons:

 

Exemption from compulsory school attendance.

Expulsion.

Transfer to another school.

Registration for home education.

Continuous absence.

Notification by a parent(s)/guardian(s) that the learner will not return to school; or

Death of the learner.

If a learner is absent from school for 10 consecutive school days the principal must make reasonable attempts to ascertain from the learner’s parent(s)/guardian(s) whether the learner has been withdrawn from the school. If the learner has been withdrawn, or if no valid reason for absence is given, or if the principal is unable to make contact with the parent(s)/guardian(s) or the learner, the principal must cancel the learner’s record in the class register on grounds of continuous absence.

When a learner’s record is cancelled, the principal must in writing:

inform the parent(s)/guardian(s) and the register teacher of the date of and the reason for the cancellation;

if the learner is of compulsory school-going age, inform the district office of the date of and reason for the cancellation.

If a learner’s record has been cancelled and the learner is later re-admitted to the school, the school administrator must make a new entry for the learner in the class register.

Valid Reasons for Absence

Physical or psychological illness, for which a principal may require communication from the parent(s)/guardian(s) that the learner is unable to attend school or written confirmation by a registered medical practitioner if the illness lasts longer than three days.

Religious or cultural observances approved by the SGB in terms of the National School Calendar Policy.

Death of a family member.

Appointment at court, social services or other official agency, for which a principal may require documentary proof.

Suspension by the SGB.

Acts of nature (that is, events that are beyond human control).

Exceptional circumstances for which, in the view of the principal, a temporary absence from school is in the best interest of the learner or was unavoidable.

Absence without a valid reason is unacceptable and will be followed up promptly.

Illness at School

If a learner is feeling ill, he or she must report to the office where the illness complaint will be recorded electronically. A form must be completed by the teachers of the lessons being missed by the learner and once that has been completed, the grade head will sign the form.

The learner will then report to Reception, hand the form in and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) will be contacted to take the learner home.

If the learner is desperately ill, the discipline deputy will sign the form and the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be contacted immediately.

Truancy

Truancy is a serious offence and will be dealt with severely as a red card offence in accordance with Little Marbles  Code of Conduct for learners. If a learner does not report for morning registration, a message will be sent via sms to the parent(s)/guardian(s) informing the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the absence from registration. It is the responsibility of the subject teacher or substitute teacher to check for and report acts of truancy.

The Class Register

The class register is a daily record of attendance of learners at lines, where roll-call will be taken by the register teacher at 7:00 each day. On rainy days and on a Monday and Thursday afternoon, learners will go to the class room of the register teacher where roll-call will be taken by the register teacher. Attendance records are done on the class register.

Responsibilities of the Learners

To attend school punctually and regularly.