Para Meadows School

A successful leader in Special Education

Telephone02 4229 1922

Emailparameadow-s.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Rules and policies

Rules and policies are in place to make sure your child remains safe and well at school.

Visit the NSW Department of Education’s policy library for all current operational policies.

Our school uses the department's School Community Charter to ensure all of our communication is collaborative and respectful.

Attendance and absences

Students must attend school regularly so they can achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options.

In NSW, all children from the age of 6 are legally required to attend school or be registered for home schooling through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). All students must complete Year 10, or its equivalent.

Young people below the age of 17 who have completed Year 10 must be:

  • in school, or registered for home schooling

  • in approved education or training, such as a traineeship, apprenticeship or TAFE

  • in full-time paid employment (average 25 hours a week)

  • in a combination of work, education and/or training (average of 25 hours a week combined).

Students 17 years and over who are enrolled in school must attend school regularly to meet HSC course requirements.

As a parent or carer, you are responsible for ensuring your child attends school every day when they are of compulsory school age. You must explain all absences to the school within 7 days.

For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:

AbsencesAll absences must be explained in writing at the time your child returns to school.

If your child is absent for more than a two day period, it is a DOE requirement that parents telephone the school. The school is required to follow-up any unexplained absences of more than two days.

It is the parents' responsibility to notify the bus driver as early as possible of your child's absence, to avoid an unnecessary trip. Parents must ensure they have the most up to date contact details for their child's bus driver.

Exemptions - Principals or School Directors may grant exemptions due to:

  • exceptional domestic circumstances, including participation in family holidays during school term, subject to being satisfied that they are in the best educational interests of the child
  • other exceptional circumstances such as health of the student where sick leave or alternative enrolment is not appropriate. 

Parents/Carers must supply a statement in support of the exemption from the child's medical specialist for the purpose of establishing a child's eligibility for an exemption on the ground of health or disability.

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