Under the Education and Training Act 2020, the board of St Joseph's School is responsible for the governance of the school, including setting and reviewing policies by which the school is governed and managed.
The board reviews how well it implements the key legislative and regulatory requirements listed below and takes steps to address any gaps in implementation. The principal assures the board through their regular board reporting that the school complies with these requirements, that relevant policies and procedures are up to date, and that the appropriate actions have been taken.
The school operates in the context of legislative and regulatory requirements. These requirements include specific actions that need to be completed and reported on at regular intervals. The board needs to be able to demonstrate compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements as part of the monitoring and evaluation process they undertake with the Education Review Office (ERO).
Education Review Office l Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga: How ERO Reviews
If a link in the table below is inactive, the school does not have the policy and the assurance may not apply. Shaded rows at the top of the assurance list should be actioned every term.
Assure the board that hazards are being actively identified, identified hazards are being monitored and controlled (including risks to student safety and wellbeing), and that control measures are being reviewed to ensure these remain appropriate and effective. This includes sun protection and EOTC activities.
Assure the board that the school has an up-to-date emergency plan, including pandemic planning, emergency/evacuation procedures, lockdowns, notification, duty of care for students, and testing procedures.
Assure the board that teachers of students with learning support needs have a sound understanding of student needs, and systems are in place to support these students.
Assure the board that at least once every two years, a consultation with the school community has occurred, and a statement on the delivery of the health curriculum has been adopted.
Assure the board that school health, safety, and welfare policies and procedures meet legislative and regulatory requirements. See Health, Safety, and Welfare Policy on your SchoolDocs site for more details.
Assure the board that policies and procedures relating to health support are up to date and implemented correctly. See Health Support on your SchoolDocs site for more details.
Assure the board that Digital Technology and Online Safety policies to promote internet safety and prevent bullying are being implemented correctly. Report on any breaches in digital safety.
Boarding House/Hostel Policies
Assure the board that the boarding house/hostel provides a safe emotional and physical environment that supports the learning of boarders enrolled at the school.
Assure the board that all children’s workers employed or engaged by the school have been safety checked before their appointment. Confirm that children’s workers have been safety checked as required within 3 years of the previous check.
Assure the board that any non-teaching staff (who are not registered teachers or holders of a Limited Authority to Teach) are police vetted, and any contractors and their employees have been police vetted if they may have unsupervised access to students during normal school hours. Confirm that police vets have been completed every 3 years.
Assure the board that all teachers employed at the school are registered with the Teaching Council and hold a current practising certificate, or have a Limited Authority to Teach.
Assure the board that the school manages the performance of staff according to employment agreement requirements. Confirm that the board complies with mandatory reporting requirements to the Teaching Council.
Assure the board that procedures for staff selection and appointment are being implemented correctly, including identity and registration checks, and any board delegation of appointment responsibilities. Confirm that supporting policies for induction, staff conduct, and professional development are being implemented.
Assure the board that the school operates an employment policy that complies with the principle of being a good employer, that the policy (including our equal employment opportunities programme) is available to staff, and that a report on compliance is included in the annual report.
Assure the board that the Child Protection policy is in use, is being implemented correctly, and is publicly available.
Assure the board that staff are engaged with the Abuse Recognition and Reporting policy, including indicators of abuse and procedures for reporting abuse.
Assure the board that the school gives effect to board obligations in relation to foundation curriculum policy statements, national curriculum statements, national performance measures, and teaching and learning programmes, including the required 10 hours a week of teaching and learning focused on reading and writing and 5 hours on maths for students up to and including year 8.
Assure the board that the school monitors and evaluates the progress and achievement of students through the analysis of good quality assessment information, and evaluates the performance of students in relation to foundation curriculum policy statements, and national curriculum statements and any nationally and internationally recognised qualifications system offered at the school.
Assure the board that the school does not allow students to use cellphones during school hours, including break times, unless students have been granted an exemption.
Assure the board that all procedures relating to search, surrender, and retention have been followed. Confirm that a written record has been kept of all surrenders and searches, and retention of any property held for more than 2 nights.
Assure the board that authorisation of non-teaching staff is specified in writing, and that staff members receive a copy and acknowledge the receipt in writing.
Assure the board that all procedures relating to physical restraint have been followed, and that all requirements to notify, monitor, and report have been met. Confirm that any non-teaching staff have been authorised in writing.
Assure the board that staff authorised to apply restraint receive appropriate training and support.
Assure the board that the school complies with the correct procedures and reporting requirements relating to stand-down, suspension, and exclusion/expulsion.
Assure the board that if the school has opted in to the government donation scheme, parents and caregivers have been advised of this. Assure the board that the school will not ask for donations, except for overnight camps.
Assure the board that the school has internal procedures that meet the requirements of the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022 (s 29) and this information is shared with staff members, contractors, board members, and volunteer workers.
School Swimming Pool
See School Swimming Pool on your SchoolDocs site for the assurances relevant to your swimming pool.
See Daily School Bus on your SchoolDocs site for the assurance relevant to your school bus.
International Learners Policy
Assure the board that the school has completed a self-review of how it is meeting Code of Practice requirements and that the self-review attestation will be submitted by the due date each year.
The release history is a record of changes made to a SchoolDocs Core topic as the result of an internal or scheduled review. The date indicates when a change was made. If you have a customised topic, it may not have received the updates described. Release history links are kept for five years, then archived.
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key legislative and regulatory requirements listed below and takes steps to address any gaps in implementation. The principal assures the board through their regular board reporting that the school complies with these requirements, that relevant policies and procedures are up to date, and that the appropriate actions have been taken. 
