Leave of absence and absences

Absence means that a pupil is absent from lessons or activities of the timetable. As a school, we aim for the lowest possible percentage of authorised absenteeism and a percentage of unauthorised and other school absenteeism of 0%. We therefore pursue an active policy to prevent school absenteeism by identifying beginning school absent0eeism and absenteeism due to illness at an early stage and making it open for discussion.

You can apply for leave using the forms (NL) below:

The absence protocol (NL) explains how De Groote Aard deals with absence. 

In brief, this is the procedure for you as a parent/caregiver:

1.       Granting leave to fulfil obligations arising from a religion or philosophy of life
Parent(s)/legal representatives should inform the school no later than two days before being prevented from attending using the request form for pupil leave.

2.       Granting holiday leave 
In principle, granting holiday leave is not possible. The Compulsory Education Act assumes that there are sufficient holiday weeks to plan one family holiday per school year. A request for holiday leave must be submitted at least 8 weeks in advance using the application form for pupil leave.

3.       Granting leave for special circumstances
Special circumstances include situations beyond the control of parents/legal representatives and/or pupils. These include important (family) events such as; marriage, death, jubilees and wedding anniversaries. Requests for leave due to special circumstances must be submitted at least 1 day in advance using the request form for pupil leave.

4.       Absence for visiting a medical specialist, orthodontist, family doctor insofar as this cannot take place outside school hours.
The school assumes that medical visits will take place outside school hours wherever possible. However, should it not be possible, it is preferable to schedule a medical visit at the beginning or end of a school day so that the pupil misses as few class hours as possible. Absence due to a visit to a medical specialist or orthodontist must be reported to the teacher at least 1 day in advance. 

5.       Absence due to illness should be reported to school by parents/caregivers by telephone before 8.30 in the morning. It is important to state the reason for the absence and when the pupil can be expected back at school. Also when the pupil is better, parents/ caregivers should report this to school by telephone before 8.30am.

6.       When a pupil is absent unknown, this is reported to the administration before 9.30 am. The teacher calls parents/caregivers to ask the reason for this absence, or instructs the administration to do so.