LEAVE OF ABSENCE POLICY FOR TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF Author Heather Cowan Last Amended January 2017 Review Date June 2020
Staff Leave of Absence Policy This Acorn Education Trust Policy aims is to provide the Staff of all Acorn Education Trust Schools guidance when making an application for leave of absence. It contains:- 1) General information about leave of absence 2) Sickness 3) Family matters including maternity and paternity 4) Other leave, paid and unpaid 1) General 1.1 Leave of absence during term time will not be given except for approved professional training or exceptional personal circumstances. Unless a person is sick, or has been granted leave of absence with pay, the policy of Acorn Education Trust is if a person does not turn up for work, that employee shall not be paid for that particular day or days. This applies to all employees. 1.2 Compassionate leave or where extended leave is requested for any reason, an application should be made to the academy headteacher which is then taken to the school s Academy Council. The decision of the Academy Council will be final. 1.3 The maximum number of days of paid leave for all circumstances that a member of staff will normally be granted in any academic year will be limited to 3 days (Pro-rata for part-time staff). 2) Sickness 2.1 This is covered in full in the Acorn Absence Management Policy and Procedure. 2.2 Medical appointments should be made, as far as possible, after school hours. Where this is not possible, an absence form must be completed as per the academy s absence procedure. 3) Family matters 3.1 Family Emergency A family emergency is a sudden or unexpected problem that requires a member of staff to make longer-term arrangements for dependants:
If a dependant falls ill or has been involved in an accident or assaulted, including where they are hurt or distressed rather than physically injured; To make care arrangements for a dependant who is ill or injured; To deal with the death of a dependant, for example to make funeral arrangements or attend a funeral; To deal with an unexpected disruption or breakdown in care arrangements for a dependant, for example when the child minder fails to turn up; To deal with an incident involving the member of staff s child during school hours, for example if the child is hurt, or is being excluded from school; To take a dependant to hospital where no alternative can be found. 3.2 Definition of a Dependant: A dependant is the partner, child or parent of the member of staff or someone who lives with the member of staff as part of their family. It does not include tenants or boarders living in the family home, or someone who lives in the household as an employee. In case of illness, injury or where care arrangements break down, a dependant may also be someone who relies on the employee for assistance. This may be where the member of staff is the primary carer, or the only person who can help in an emergency. The academy headteacher and Academy Council has the ability to agree time off of up to three paid days. Additional time off in exceptional circumstances, paid or unpaid, is up to the discretion of the headteacher and will depend on individual circumstances. When considering such a request, the headteacher will consider the following:- 1. Cost and degree of operational inconvenience to the school; 2. Frequency/number of previous requests by the same person. 3.3 Maternity/Paternity and Parental Leave Please see the following Acorn Education Policies and associated forms: Maternity Scheme Time Off for Antenatal Appointments Time Off for Adoption Appointments Paternity Parental Leave: Birth and Adoption Shared Parental Leave: Birth and Adoption All policies and associated forms are available on the Acorn Education and academy websites.
4) Other leave 4.1 Interviews A maximum of 2 days. In the event of a member of staff needing to attend several interviews in one academic year, it will be at the academy headteacher s discretion how much paid leave will be granted. 4.2 Work for Exam Boards: Marker/Moderator 1 day to attend markers exam board meeting; Moderator maximum 3 days to visit other schools to undertake moderation work; Chief/Principal Examiner 3 days to attend exam board meetings. If the exams board requires further meetings, consultation should be made with the academy headteacher or person with delegated responsibility for cover to agree further days attendance at meetings. (All absences should be covered by cashback voucher from exam boards to cover the cost of supply.) 4.3 Degree ceremonies and Investitures A maximum of 1 day, where these involve a near relative. 4.4 Moving house A maximum of 1 day. On first appointment to a post in Wiltshire or on appointment to another school in Wiltshire. A day unpaid may be granted for all other house moves. 4.5 Leave for Public Duties Leave of absence without salary will be granted for staff to attend as Governors of other schools. 4.6 Jury Service or other court appearances If you are called to do Jury service, please contact Acorn HR in the first instance and inform your Headteacher. Unless otherwise agreed, normal practice will be to defer the jury service until a more suitable time. This will be especially important for teachers at critical times. Teachers may be excused entirely. The payment of salary is at the discretion of the Trust but the Trust will usually pay the first 10 working days. After that, a person, who has a legal obligation to attend a court, should make a claim from the courts.
4.7 Weddings Where a wedding is not held at a weekend, a day will be granted for close family. This means siblings, parents, children, nieces and nephews. All other requests will be treated individually depending on the time of year and cover needed. Some requests will be unpaid. 4.8 Funerals A day will be granted for close family. Please indicate the relative when filling in the absence form. This may be taken unpaid. 4.9 Religious festivals If a member of staff wishes to celebrate a religious festival outside our usual holiday then they must apply to the Deputy Headteacher. The decision will be made with the Headteacher and will depend on the individual circumstances, time of year and cover implications. 4.10 University/College interviews of son/daughter A maximum of 1 day unpaid leave.