Attendance and absences

Attendance

Teacher Candidates are expected to be punctual and to observe the same hours of attendance as the staff at the placement setting in which they are placed.

Teacher Candidates are expected to attend all scheduled placement days. When illness or injuries occur, candidates must follow the process outlined under the 'Absences' heading below.

Absences

When illness or emergencies prevent attendance at a placement setting, Teacher Candidates must:

1. Contact their Student Teacher Coordinator, Mentor Teacher and Clinical Educator before the teaching day commences.
2. Complete and submit a ‘Placement Absence Form’ in their Sonia portal.
3. Liaise with their Mentor Teacher to organise 'make-up' days, unless they are required to apply for Special Consideration (see below).
4. Plan their workload across all other subjects; other deadlines stay unchanged. If necessary, Subject Coordinators will adjust assessment dates for tasks linked to placement completion.

Unexpected Absences of more than three days

If a Teacher Candidate is absent for more than three days (consecutive or non-consecutive) during a single placement, they must:

1. Complete step one above.
2. Apply for Special Consideration with evidence.

If approved:

• The Clinical Education Coordinator will be notified. 'Make-up' days and placement-related assessment due dates will be amended.
• Additional extension requests for assessment due dates will need to be applied for via FoE extensions (up to 10 days) or another Special Consideration application (more than 10 days).

Anticipated Absence of more than three days

It is a Teacher Candidate's responsibility to plan personal events around standard placement dates wherever possible. Approval for any absences that a Teacher Candidate might be aware of in advance of a placement commencing is not guaranteed and is subject to placement scheduling constraints.

If a Teacher Candidate anticipates in advance an absence of more than three days, they must:

• Advise their Clinical Education Coordinator of any anticipated absences via email at least six weeks prior to the placement commencing.
• Provide evidence and obtain approval from the Course Coordinator and ITE Director.

Approval for anticipated absences is only granted in exceptional circumstances where the commitment is immovable and significant, such as:

• Critical employment obligations that cannot be rescheduled, where absence would cause substantial disadvantage to yourself or others
• High-level music, sport, or other professional opportunities
• Major family events

If approved:

• 'Make-up' days and amended assessment dates (for placement-related tasks only) will be set.
• No additional support for other subjects will be facilitated unless a Teacher Candidate is eligible under formal policies.

Absences during a placement must be made up before commencing a subsequent placement and before a grade can be awarded.

Industrial action

In the event of industrial action by placement setting staff including the Mentor Teacher, the Teacher Candidate should withdraw from the placement setting for the duration of the action and notify their Clinical Specialist.

A Teacher Candidate should never assume the duties of a teacher participating in the action. Absences related to prolonged industrial action should be discussed with the Clinical Specialist and Clinical Practice Coordinator.