Belvoir Park Primary
School
If culture is the personality of an
organisation then a quality school is restless, constantly questioning, never
satisfied, challenging norms and believing that things can always be better.
Learn
to value and respect everyone in school
Learn
both to work on our own and also with others
Learn
to develop our intelligences and talents
Learn
to think clearly to help solve problems
Learn
that only our best is good enough
Learn
that learning never ends
Learn
to live our dream
Leave
of Absence Policy
‘What
the child can do in co-operation today he can do alone tomorrow.’
(Vygotsky
1934).
This policy will be applied to absences not exceeding three working days.
·
With effect from 1 August 1990 decisions regarding
leave for teachers who are absent from school for three working days or less are
a matter entirely for the employing authorities.
·
The recommendations are based on an agreed format
proposed by the teachers’ unions.
·
In the case of absences of three days or less which
are not provided for in the policy the principal will exercise their discretion
in a sensible manner bearing in mind their responsibilities to the needs of
pupils.
·
All requests will be considered in accordance with
the ethos of the school and every accommodation will be made to facilitate
requests.
·
Requests must be made at the earliest possible
opportunity to enable and facilitate planning.
·
The term ‘near relative’ means
father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister, son or
daughter, grandparents, father-in-Iaw, mother-in-law, son-in-Iaw and
daughter-in-Iaw.
·
The term ‘other relative’ means
sister-in-Iaw, brother-in-law, nephew, niece, aunt, uncle, or guardian.
CAUSE OF ABSENCE & RECOMMENDED ACTION
1.
Death of a near relative or other relative being a member of the teacher’s
household.
·
Up to 3 days’ leave with pay.
2. Death
of other relative.
·
One day’s leave with pay, but where
extensive travel is involved, 2 days
may be granted.
3.
Attendance at funeral
other than that of a relative.
·
Leave with pay only where attendance is a
necessary social duty. The period of absence should be the minimum part of the
day necessary to fulfil the duty.
4. Marriage
of teacher.
·
3 days’ special leave with pay if
marriage takes place: (a) outside a
period of closing of school; or (b)
within a period of closing other than the “long”
vacation.
5. Attendance
at wedding.
·
1 day’s leave with pay if the bride or
groom is a near relative of the
teacher, a bridesmaid or best man, but where extensive travel is involved, up to
2 days may be granted.
6. Serious
illness of a member of the teacher’s household.
·
Up to 3 days’ leave with pay.
7. Attendance
at examinations.
·
Leave with pay for each day on which an
examination is attended provided the examination is designed to lead to
additional qualifications.
8.
Attendance at interviews in connection with other teaching appointments or other
appointments within the NI education service.
·
Up to 1 day’s leave with pay.
9. Attendance
as representative of teachers’ union meetings.
·
Leave with pay provided frequency of
absence is not excessive.
10. Attendance
at Conference of Teachers’ Organisation.
·
Leave with pay.
11. Attendance
at Conference Meetings etc.
·
Leave with pay for: attendance at
meetings of Education and Library Boards and CCMS or committees of such bodies;
attendance at meetings of statutory bodies or bodies set up by the Department of
Education of which the teacher is member or other meetings arranged by the
Department; attendance at a conference where such attendance is likely to be
beneficial to the teacher in the discharge of his/her school duties; or
attendance at youth welfare activities, e.g., Girl Guides, Community Relations
Project etc.
12.
Absence due to disruption of
daily travel facilities, e.g., flood, snow, transport strike.
·
Leave with pay but regard must be had to
the individual circumstances.
13. Attendance
at Ordination or Profession of near relative.
·
1 day’s leave with pay, but where
extensive travel is involved up to 2 days may be granted.
14.
Attendance at Court,
Industrial or other statutory Tribunal as a witness, plaintiff or defendant.
·
Leave with pay.
15. Attendance
at Graduation Ceremony.
·
1 day’s leave with pay, but where
extensive travel is involved up to 2 days may be granted.
16.
Participating or officiating
at sporting events of a international, national or provincial standing as an
amateur.
·
Leave with pay.
17. In
the event of a wife’s confinement.
·
3 days’ leave with pay.
18. Serious
burglary or serious damage to house.
·
1 days’ leave with pay .
19. Lay
person on bench of juvenile court.
·
Time off with pay less any loss of
earnings allowance received by teacher for his service on not more than 4 days
in the school year.
20.
Visit to, or accompanying spouse on
special visit to a medical consultant or one parent accompanying own child on a
special visit to a medical consultant.
·
Up to 1 day’s leave with pay.
21.
Accompanying own child to
receive Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award
·
Up to 2 days’ leave with pay depending
on travel arrangements.
22. Attending
own child’s graduation outside Northern Ireland.
·
Up to 2 days’ leave with pay depending
on travel arrangements.
23. House
removal.
·
1 day’s leave with pay.
24.
Birthday, New Year or Special
Honours Award to a near relative.
·
1 day’s leave with pay, but where
extensive travel is involved, 2 days may be granted.
25. Preparation
for examination.
·
Leave without pay.
26. Attendance
at musical festival etc. as a competitor.
·
Leave without pay unless a festival is of
national or international standing.
27. Acting
as presiding officer, polling clerk etc. at an election.
·
Leave without pay if school is in
operation.
28.
Attendance at religious observances
when this is required by the regulations of the teacher’s religious
denomination.
·
Leave without pay provided the teacher
gives notice to his/her employing authority at the beginning of the school year
of the days required.