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 and remain in school, employment or training until they turn 17.
For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:
Absences at our school
Children arriving late to school after 9.15am must report to the front office accompanied by their parent or carer and complete a late note before going to their classroom. Office staff are required to record attendance and provide the student a Late Slip, which is then given to the classroom teacher.
Absence notes
We provide a booklet to assist parents and carers to tell us in writing of the reason for any whole or part day absences.
The "cut-off" slip in this booklet helps parents and carers to keep an accurate record of their children's absences. Extra booklets are available from the School Office on request.
If your child has to be absent from school for any reason, including arriving late or leaving early, please complete the relevant Student Absence Forms (DOCX 419KB).
Absences of more than two days or planned leave
If the absence is for more than two days or has been planned please contact the school by phone and where possible provide a medical certificate.
Sign in at the office
If you are late to school or need to leave early before the end of the school day, you must be signed in or out, at the office on Gilmour Street by an accompanying adult.
If a child needs to leave early for any reason the parent or carer must first visit the front office and fill in a Student Absence Form before leaving with their child.
Children must not leave the school grounds without a completed Student Absence Form.
School frameworks (school rules)
As well as following the department’s operational policies, we have developed frameworks for our students in line with our school’s values and commitments.
School visitors
All visitors to the school, including parents, grandparents and carers, must sign in at the office using the Gilmour Street entrance. If you need to speak to a teacher an appointment will be made for you. No parents are to go directly to the classrooms. As this is a school safety issue we ask that you please adhere to these guidelines.
Lost property
If student's possessions are labelled clearly and permanently it is much easier to return them to the owner. Lost property is kept for a term.
Please check at the office to come in and search for your child's lost belongings in the lost property box. Unclaimed lost property is donated to a local charity shop.
Nut free zone
Some students at Kelso Public School can have severe anaphylactic reactions to products containing nuts. For this reason we promote a nut free zone. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.