ROSELYN HOUSE SCHOOL

Off-site and Absconsion Policy

A student is deemed to have absconded if they have left the school site without the permission of any professional within the building.

If a student is late to a lesson, the subject teacher must address this in the first instance, giving the student the opportunity to give an explanation as to why.

KS3 students who are allowed off site, are to be accompanied by a member of staff. KS4/5 students who are allowed off site, must gain verbal agreement from a teacher. This is dependent on the reasons for their offsite request. The above is only permitted during break times.

Students who are allowed offsite and do not behave appropriately will have this privilege taken off them until further notice and only re-instated by the SLT.

Absconsion procedure

When a student is not present when they should be this must be reported to the Deputy Head or RHS Co-Ordinators in their absence immediately.

• The interior of the building will be searched.
• Exterior/ grounds of building may be searched.
• If the student has been seen leaving the school premises, a member of staff will follow them.
• A vehicle/ escort will be sent to search the local area.
• Members of staff should not run out on to roads to chase students.
• If a student runs onto the motorway, staff should not follow them, they should call the Police immediately (999).
• Parents/ Carers to be informed of absconsion.
• Police to be informed if appropriate – timescale to be determined by the risk management of the individual young person.
• Consequence for Absconsion to be implemented at appropriate level.
• Incident documented on CPOMS.

Absconsion Consequence

Students who go off site without permission will have privileges stopped depending on the nature of the absconsion. If the student has been to the shop during this time, any items purchased may be confiscated. Any member of staff can do this.

Energy drinks are not allowed in school and this will be seen as a violation of the trust a student has been given. All energy drinks will be confiscated and not returned.

Any suspected use of alcohol or drugs must be reported immediately to a member of SLT and Policy applied.

If a student continues to abscond the consequence will escalate appropriately, and as follows:

• Privileges stopped.
• Withdrawal from Class.
• Contact with home.
• After school detention and a later return home.

The above will be managed by the class teacher or appropriate LSA at first, and if the student continues to abscond, the Deputy Head will hold a further meeting with the parents/guardians and relevant professionals to discuss further.

S. Damerall

Reviewed June 2024