Northland School Board of Trustees

Non-Custodial Parents’ Policy
 

Providing School with Court Orders:

Parents will be responsible for providing the school with any court orders affecting a parent's right of access to records or contact with their children. Parents are encouraged to notify the school of any change in circumstances at home or of any Court orders, so the school is aware of who has the right to have the child in their care at any particular time.

 

Non-Custodial Parents' Access to Student Records:

Non-custodial parents shall be entitled to exercise all parental rights regarding student records, unless restricted by law or court order.
 

Non-Custodial Parents’ Participation in Teacher Conferences and Right to Obtain General Notices:

Unless restricted by law or court order:
• Non-custodial parents shall have the same right as custodial parents to attend regularly scheduled teacher conferences, and to obtain copies of records of conferences. Separate teacher conferences for divorced or separated parents can be arranged on request.
• Non-custodial parents shall have the same rights as custodial parents in obtaining general school notices.

 

Protection Orders:

Where the school is informed that a Protection Order is in place, the school will make arrangements with the custodial parent to ensure that any child named in the Protection Order is released only to the custodial parent during or after the school day, unless the custodial parent has granted permission for the child to be released to some one else.
If the school believes that any person is at the school in breach of a Protection Order, the school will make every effort to contact the custodial parent to clarify the terms of the order. If any person is at the school in breach of a Protection Order the school will contact the police. No child will be released to any person in breach of a protection order.

Definitions:

"Court order" means any order, judgment, or other adjudication of the Family Court or any other Court of New Zealand.
"Custodial parent” means a parent who is responsible for the day to day care of a child under the terms of a Court order.
“Non-custodial parent” means a parent who is not responsible for the day to day care of a child as a result of a Court order.
"Parent" means the child's legal guardian.
“Protection Order” means an order made under section 14 of the Domestic Violence Act 1995.

 

Approved: 14 March 2007

Review Date: 2010