Recent policy updates – Term 2 2022 to Term 1 2023

The following policy documents were updated between Term 2 2022 and Term 1 2023.

The ‘Changes since previous update’ section on individual policy pages provides for more details on changes to policy documents.

Who do I contact if I have questions about the policy?

Refer to the contact details on individual policy documents.


Policy Document name Change Publication date
Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K-12

Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K-12 policy statement

Curriculum Policy Standards

Updated the policy statement to remove reference to the Covid-19 interim policy standards and reintroduce the Curriculum Policy Standards implementation document.

The Curriculum Policy Standards were restored, replacing the interim Covid-19 policy standards. References to Stage 5 elective course offerings were removed.

06/02/2023
Restrictive Practices Reduction and Elimination

Restrictive Practices Reduction and Elimination policy statement

Restrictive Practices Planning Procedures

Environmental Restraints Planning Procedures

New policy - provides guidance on the use of restrictive practices in NSW public schools and government preschools, including reporting requirements, and outlines the practices that are never permitted.

The Restrictive Practices Planning Procedures support the implementation of the Restrictive Reduction and Elimination policy and the Restrictive Practices Framework.

The Environmental Restraints Planning Procedures supports the implementation of the Restrictive Practices Reduction and Elimination policy and the Restrictive Practices Framework.

23/01/2023

Accreditation in NSW Public Schools

(formerly Accreditation at Proficient Teacher in NSW Public Schools)

Accreditation in NSW Public Schools policy statement Consolidated Accreditation at Highly Accomplished Teacher and Lead Teacher in NSW Public Schools policy with the Accreditation at Proficient Teacher in NSW Public Schools policy and changed the name to Accreditation in NSW Public Schools. The update has streamlined the policy and removed duplication between the department and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). 08/12/2022
Accreditation at Highly Accomplished Teacher and Lead Teacher in NSW Public Schools Accreditation in NSW Public Schools policy statement Consolidated with the Accreditation at Proficient Teacher in NSW Public Schools policy and renamed Accreditation in NSW Public Schools policy. 08/12/2022
Out of Home Care in Government Schools Out of Home Care in Government Schools policy statement

Routine update - no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated role titles, responsibilities and some terminology in policy statement to reflect current practice.

24/11/2022
Carry Forward (Schools)

Carry Forward (Schools) policy statement

Carry Forward (Schools) Guidelines (PDF 194 KB)

Routine update - no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the policy and guidelines to improve clarity around requirements and strengthen support for schools. There are no changes to current requirements for schools.

The clarifications include that carry forward amounts will be transferred to Fund 6101 and requests for exceptional circumstances will be approved by the Chief Financial Officer. The update also reflects the change in policy ownership to Director, Schools Planning Budgeting and Reporting.

14/11/2022
Enrolment of Students in NSW Government Schools Distance Education Enrolment Procedures (PDF 349 KB)

Routine update - no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated naming, position titles, web links and annual dates.

20/10/2022
Private and Secondary Employment

Private and Secondary Employment policy statement

Private and Secondary Employment Procedure (PDF 234.66 KB)

Routine update - no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the policy statement and procedure to ensure relevance and accuracy.

In the procedures, clarified compliance requirements for leave without pay and incorporated existing (standalone) content on private tutoring. Application form was converted to a writable PDF.

20/10/2022
Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct (PDF 431.75 KB)

Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Procedures (PDF 253.67 KB)

Routine update - no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated links in the Code of Conduct procedures to e-learning courses and added a link to the current declaration form.

Updated the Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Procedures, introducing the following requirements:

  • an exception for reporting low-risk, 'staff-to-staff' gifts that meet the GIFT test
  • that employees decline any gift if the donor and/or their intentions are not known
  • a blanket prohibition on staff from Internal Audit, Procurement and Quality Assurance and Regulatory Services from receiving gifts
  • removed the prohibition on accepting gifts of alcohol above $50.
19/10/2022
Asset Management Asset Management policy statement

Routine update - no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Policy statement updated to include information about requirements for playground equipment.

17/10/2022
Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K-12

COVID-19 Interim Policy Standards - 2022 (PDF 208 KB)

NOTE: This document was removed from the Policy Library 06/02/2023

Routine update - no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the COVID-19 Interim Policy Standards - 2022 to refer to 2023 requirments on RoSA and HSC rules and clarify reporting to parents requirements for Kindergarten.

17/10/2022
Enterprise Risk Management

Enterprise Risk Management policy statement

Enterprise Risk Management Framework (PDF 218.8 KB)

Routine update - no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the policy statement and the Enterprise Risk Management Framework to more closely align to ISO31000:2018 Risk Management Guidelines.

17/10/2022
Sharing of School Facilities Sharing of School Facilities Procedures (PDF 313 KB)

Routine update - no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the Sharing of School Facilities Procedures to reflect changes to Share our Space.

17/10/2022
Anti-Racism

Anti-Racism policy statement

Anti-Racism education (PDF 290 KB)

Routine update related to changes to the Student Behaviour policy and the Inclusive Education for students with disability policy – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed. 10/10/2022
Drugs in Schools

Drugs in Schools policy statement

Managing Drug Related Incidents Procedures (PDF 285 KB)

Routine update related to changes to the Student Behaviour policy and the Inclusive Education for students with disability policy – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Also updated names and links to other department policies in policy statement.

Updated Managing Drug Related Incidents Procedures to comply with template. Clarified information about individual support planning and suspending students.

10/10/2022
Enrolment of Students in NSW Government Schools Department preschool enrolment procedures (PDF 159 KB)

Routine update related to changes to the Student Behaviour policy and the Inclusive Education for students with disability policy – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Added related document - Inclusive Education for students with disability policy.

10/10/2022
Excursions

Excursions policy statement

Excursion planning and management (PDF 401 KB)

Routine update related to changes to the Student Behaviour policy and the Inclusive Education for students with disability policy – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated contact details in the policy statement.

Also updated links in the Excursions planning and management document, clarified parent requirements in relation to car travel, anaphylaxis and supervisory responsibilities. Updated information about COVID-19 requirements.

10/10/2022
Homework Homework policy guidelines (PDF 560 KB) Routine update related to changes to the Student Behaviour policy and the Inclusive Education for students with disability policy – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed. 10/10/2022
Literacy K-12 Literacy K-12 policy statement Routine update related to changes to the Student Behaviour policy and the Inclusive Education for students with disability policy – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed. 10/10/2022
Numeracy K-12 Numeracy K-12 policy statement Routine update related to changes to the Student Behaviour policy and the Inclusive Education for students with disability policy – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed. 10/10/2022
Student Welfare Student Welfare policy statement Routine update related to changes to the Student Behaviour policy and the Inclusive Education for students with disability policy – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed. 10/10/2022
Inclusive education for students with disability Inclusive education for students with disability

Consolidated the ‘People with Disabilities – Statement of Commitment’ and ‘Assisting Students with Learning Difficulties’ policies, and changed the name to ‘Inclusive education for students with disability’. Updated the policy to clarify staff roles and responsibilities, and the department’s legal obligations, in delivering inclusive education.

Removed the implementation document, Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2016-2020.

Developed new practice resources to support schools.

10/10/2022
Assisting Students with Learning Difficulties
This policy was consolidated with the Inclusive Education for students with disability policy. 10/10/2022
Student Behaviour

Student Behaviour policy statement

Behaviour code for students (PDF 83 KB)

Detention and Time-Out Guidelines (PDF 116 KB)

School Behaviour Support and Mangement Plan guide (PDF 120 KB)

Student Behaviour Procedures Kindergarten to Year 12 (PDF 355 KB)

Guidelines for Behaviour management decisions made under previous policy and procedures (PDF 131 KB)

Changed the name from Student Discipline policy to Student Behaviour policy. Updated the policy, emphasising practices to promote positive behaviour in schools. The changes will affect the way principals and school staff manage student behaviour.

Supporting documents also updated and strengthened to help schools implement the updated policy.

System changes to support the new Student Behaviour and Suspension policy for the start of Term 4, 2022 are as follows:

10/10/2022
Fraud and Corruption Control

Fraud and Corruption Control policy statement

Fraud and Corruption Control Framework (PDF 782 KB)


Routine update – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the policy statement to align with the updated Australian Standard 8001-2021, and to clarify requirements, including broadening roles and responsibilities, and introducing information on non-compliance.

Updated implementation document to align with the standard as above, and changed its name from Fraud and Corruption Control Procedures to Fraud and Corruption Control Framework.

There are no additional requirements for schools.

26/07/2022
Literacy K-12 Literacy K-12 policy statement

Routine update – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the policy statement for compliance with the School Success Model and with the policy template. Updated contact details.

Changed the name of the implementation web page link from 'Literacy Policy Support" to 'Curriculum support and teaching resources'.

There are no additional requirements for schools.

25/07/2022
Religious Education Special Religious Education Procedure (PDF 174 KB)

Routine update – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the implementation document, Special Religious Education Procedure, to include changes to the Working with Children Check policy. Updated website links.

There are no additional requirements for schools.

25/07/2022
Sharing of School Facilities Sharing of School Facilities Procedures (PDF 361 KB)

Routine update – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the implementation document, Sharing of School Facilities Procedures, to include:

  • information on how local government can manage the shared use of school facilities outside of school hours
  • additional information for schools on canteen and uniform licencing.

There are no additional requirements for schools.

25/07/2022
Special Education in Ethics Special Education in Ethics Procedure (PDF 176 KB)

Routine update – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the implementation document, Special Education in Ethics Procedure, to include changes to the Working with Children Check policy. Updated website links.

There are no additional requirements for schools.

25/07/2022
Travel on Official Business Travel on Official Business policy statement

Routine update – no immediate action required, refer to these policy documents when needed.

Updated the policy statement to clarify policy requirements and comply with policy template. Updated contact details and titles.

Changed the name of the implementation web page link from 'Travel on official business guidelines' to ''Travel (EDConnect website)'.

There are no additional requirements for schools.

25/07/2022
Return to top of page Back to top