Modified (Reduced Hours) Timetable

Policy

This policy sets out the requirements for implementing a modified (reduced hours) timetable for an individual student.

Summary

• A modified timetable is a time-limited arrangement agreed between a school, a student (where appropriate), and their parent/carer to enable a student to attend school for reduced hours.
• The effective use of modified timetables can support a student's full-time re-engagement in education, or contribute to making reasonable adjustments to support education access for students with disability.
• Modified timetables can only be implemented in the specific circumstances outlined in this policy.
• The initial length of a modified timetable must not exceed 10 weeks, with extensions approved only in limited circumstances.
• Modified timetable arrangements must be agreed at a Student Support Group (SSG) meeting or equivalent, and documented by completing a Modified timetable agreement (DOCX).
• An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is not mandatory for a student on a modified timetable but if a student has an IEP, it is recommended that their modified timetable arrangement is referenced within it.
• Principal approval and parent/carer consent to a modified timetable, including extensions, must be recorded in a Modified timetable agreement.
• Schools must use the modified timetable absence code (627) for times when a student is absent from school as specified in their modified timetable.

Details

A modified timetable is a time-limited arrangement used by agreement between a school, a student (where appropriate) and their parent/carer where the student attends school for reduced hours.

The effective use of modified timetables can support a student's full-time re-engagement in education, or contribute to making reasonable adjustments to support education access for students with disability.

Contacts

Contact the relevant regional office health, wellbeing and specialist services teams for advice and support in managing modified timetables and attendance issues.

Related policies

• Attendance
• Behaviour – Students
• Collection of Students
• Complaint Resolution
• Duty of Care
• Flexible Learning Options
• Individual Education Plans
• Navigator Program
• Pregnancy and Parenting – Students
• School Hours
• Student Engagement
• Student Support Groups
• Students with Disability
• Young Carers – Identification and Support

Relevant legislation

• Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)
• Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Cth)
• Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic)
• Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic)

Guidance

This guidance contains the following chapters:

• Situations in which a modified timetable can be considered
• Situations where a modified timetable is not permitted
• Development of a modified timetable
• Support for students on a modified timetable
• Consultation and approval of a modified timetable
• Duration of a modified timetable
• Recording of a modified timetable in CASES21

Situations in which a modified timetable can be considered

Re-engagement

A modified timetable can be implemented as one part of a broader strategy to support the re-engagement of a student who has not attended school for an extended period of time.

Reasonable adjustment for a student with disability

A modified timetable may be used as a time-limited reasonable adjustment for a student with disability where the student’s parent/carer and treating practitioner(s) and/or allied health professionals identify this is required to support the student’s learning, wellbeing and engagement needs.

Before a modified timetable is implemented for a student with disability (that is, a student for whom reasonable adjustments have been made), the school must ensure that reasonable adjustments have first been implemented with the intent of enabling the student’s full-time attendance and participation.

Behaviour support

Where a student’s behaviour poses a risk of physical harm to themselves or others, a modified timetable may be an appropriate intervention alongside other measures. A Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) (DOCX) is required for all students when the primary reason for the modified timetable relates to behaviour, and it is recommended that their modified timetable arrangement is referenced within the plan.

Medical reasons

Where a student has a serious medical condition, a modified timetable may complement a Student Health Support Plan (DOCX) agreed upon between the school, parents/carers, and health professionals. It is recommended that the modified timetable arrangement is referenced within the plan.

Students with parenting or carer responsibilities

A modified timetable may support a student with parenting or carer responsibilities to enable them to remain engaged in schooling.

Situations where a modified timetable is not permitted

Schools must not use modified timetables because of insufficient resources (including resources to provide reasonable adjustments for a student with disability).

A modified timetable must not be used as a disciplinary measure. If a student is to be excluded from attending school, this must only happen in accordance with the legal requirements outlined in the Suspensions or Expulsions policies.

Development of a modified timetable

A modified timetable must be part of a broader support program for a student. The specific arrangements for a modified timetable must be discussed and agreed to at an Student Support Group (SSG) meeting (or equivalent) and will differ depending on the needs of each individual student. Different options may include having a student attend school for specific subjects, set times of the day, or specific days of the week with the aim of increasing the student’s attendance until they are attending full-time.

To document a modified timetable arrangement, the school must complete a Modified Timetable Agreement (DOCX)in order to capture the agreed hours of attendance, the strategy for a return to full-time attendance and written consent from parents/carers and principal approval.

Support for students on a modified timetable

A Modified Timetable Agreement may include guidance for the student on how they can continue with their learning while absent from school, where appropriate.

It is recommended that schools consider how a student on a modified timetable will remain engaged in school life and encourage their participation in activities such as excursions and school camps, even when these do not align with the times they are scheduled to attend school.

Support for a student on a modified timetable must be tailored to their needs. For example, where a modified timetable is introduced as a re-engagement tool, the school could consider additional academic support where they need to catch-up or appoint a mentor to provide additional social and emotional support. The Map of key mental health and wellbeing supports (PDF) provides an overview of programs that may be considered.

Consultation and approval of a modified timetable

A modified timetable must be developed in consultation with the student (where appropriate), their teacher, and their parent/carer. This must occur as part of an Student Support Group (SSG) meeting (or equivalent).

The completed Modified Timetable Agreement (DOCX) must be approved by the school principal and include written (signed) consent from the parent/carer. The school cannot implement or extend a modified timetable without parent/carer consent.

Any extension to a modified timetable requires a re-confirmation of parent/carer consent and principal approval.

In limited circumstances, it may be appropriate for a school to apply the department’s Mature Minors and Decision Making policy to determine that a student is a mature minor for the purpose of making an informed decision about transitioning to a modified timetable. When a student is considered to be a mature minor, parent/carer consent is not required and the student’s consent to the modified timetable arrangement is sufficient.

A Frequently Asked Questions resource for parents/carers (DOCX)provides information about key elements of the modified timetable policy and the need for parent/carer consent. Where a school and a parent/carer cannot agree about elements of a modified timetable, the parent/carer can escalate the issue to the regional office as described in the department’s Complaint resolution policy.

Duration of a modified timetable

The school, in consultation with the parent/carer, the student (where appropriate) and other key support services, must regularly monitor and review the student’s engagement as the modified timetable progresses and consider whether further support is required or an earlier return to full-time attendance is possible.

The key requirements around duration of a modified timetable are:

• Initial period: must not exceed 10 cumulative weeks.
• Extension beyond 10 weeks/initial agreed period: If a student is still on a modified timetable at the end of their initial agreed period, an SSG meeting (or equivalent) must be held to discuss student progress and any challenges they may be facing. The Modified Timetable can be extended for a further period of up to 10 weeks via the extension section of theModified Timetable Agreement (DOCX), with approval by the principal and with parent/carer consent.
• Further extension beyond 20 weeks: Any further extension beyond a total of 20 weeks must only occur in exceptional circumstances and where it is clearly in the best interests of the student. Re-approval by the principal and parent/carer consent is required via the extension section of the Modified Timetable Agreement. Consultation with regional health, wellbeing and specialist services teams regarding any proposed extensions is encouraged.

Cumulative weeks: All time limits described above apply to cumulative modified timetable periods across 12 months (for example, a student who has a 4-week modified timetable in Term 4 is considered to reach the 10-week limit when a further modified timetable is implemented for 6 weeks in the following year). This cumulative time limit does not apply and resets when a student changes schools or campuses.

Recording of a modified timetable in CASES21

CASES21 now includes an absence code (627) to be used when a student does not attend school as per their agreed modified timetable arrangement. This code will apply for students on a Modified Timetable as of Term 1, 2026.

For further information on how to accurately record absences for a student on a modified timetable, please refer to the Attendance and Absence Recording Guide (DOCX) on the Attendance policy.

Resources

• Modified timetable agreement (DOCX) – template for schools to record the details of a modified timetable and seek relevant consent
• Frequently asked questions for parents/carers (DOCX)