PT ENGLAND SCHOOL POLICY
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
INTRO:
From time to time members of staff require or wish leave of absence for purposes other than those provided for in their respective Award documents.
OBJECTIVES:
1.To ensure that the policy guidelines in the relation to the granting of leave are clearly defined and reflect the NZEI Collective Agreement.
2.To ensure that the policy guidelines are accessible to all parties involved.
3.To ensure that applications for leave are treated equitably and consistently.
GUIDELINES:
1.These guidelines apply to all applications for leave for a period greater than one week's duration, that are not provided for in employees' respective Award documents.
2.In all but the most exceptional cases, applications for leave must be submitted in writing, stating the full reason that leave is required, at least one full week prior to a Board of Trustees Meeting or four school weeks before the leave is required, whichever is the greater.
3.The Board of Trustees recognises two types of leave :
(a)Short Term :
All periods of leave greater than one week but less than one term.
(b)Long Term :
All periods of one full term, two full terms or a full year.
4.To qualify for leave applicants should :
(i)have been full time teaching for a period of five years.
(ii)have been working in this school for minimum of 2 years.
(iii)not have been granted long term leave during the previous 3 years.
(iv)not have been granted short term leave during the previous 2 years.
5.Leave, either long or short term, will be granted to a limited number of teachers at any one time to ensure disruption to the school is kept to a minimum.
6.Leave applications will be considered on a 'first come, first served' basis except when two or more teachers apply at the same time. In this case decisions will be made in line with this policy, length of service and contributions to this school and the overall effect the leave will have on this school.
7.Leave may be granted as follows :
(i)Travel
*One period of up to one year's leave. Thereafter applications will not be considered until a further three years' service after completion of the leave.
*Leave must commence at the beginning of a school term and finish at the end of a term unless the period of leave is less than one term, in which case it must either commence at the beginning of the term or finish at the end of the term.
*Leave will not be approved where it will commence within 2 weeks after the beginning of the term or end of the term unless there are exceptional circumstances.
(ii)Break from Teaching
Up to one year's leave on one occasion only to teachers with more than 20 years' service (including training service) provided the teacher has not had leave for travel within the preceding five years. Thereafter, leave for travel will not be considered until a further 5 years' service after the completion of the leave for a break from teaching.
(iii)Compassionate Leave
Up to one year's leave to care for or visit a seriously ill close relative subject to the production of a satisfactory medical certificate concerning the health of the relative.
(iv)Study Leave
Up to one year's leave on one occasion only to undertake University study at an advanced level or to undertake final units of a degree, provided the course taken for that year is a full-time load. The participation in exchange teaching programmes is regarded as study leave.
Leave must be for one full term, two full terms or a full year.
(v)Other Leave
Leave will be considered on its merits for reasons other than travel, a break in teaching, study or compassionate leave. Leave must be taken for one full term, two full terms or a full year unless there are exceptional circumstances.
8.Leave for one year will only be granted for the whole school year unless there are exceptional circumstances (i.e. it will not be granted for part of one school year and part of another.)
9.The Board of Trustees will decline to grant leave to those teachers who wish to tour as paid employees of a group or organisation.
10. Staff are reminded not to enter into firm travel arrangements or other commitments prior to a decision on the leave application having been made by the Board.
11. Where leave has been approved by the Board of Trustees for any of the reasons covered by the policy and the circumstances change so that reason for the application is no longer valid (e.g. travel arrangements not proceeded with ) the Board must be informed immediately and leave will then be reconsidered in the light of the changed circumstances.
12. Notwithstanding any of the above, the final decision to grant Leave of Absence will be at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
Formulated: 1992
Reviewed: 1999
2002
2005Â
2009
2013
2019
2023
2025