Why regular attendance matters

Regular attendance is crucial for your child’s academic success, social development, and overall wellbeing. When students attend school consistently, they benefit from continuous learning, which helps them build essential knowledge and skills without interruption. Regular attendance also ensures your child can fully participate in classroom activities, group work, and school events that foster friendships and teamwork. Missing school, even for short periods, can create gaps in learning that are hard to catch up on and may affect your child’s confidence and motivation. Furthermore, consistent attendance helps children establish positive routines and habits that are important for their future education and life. By supporting regular attendance, you are helping your child develop a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success. here 1

School attendance expectations

At our school, we follow the Department of Education’s attendance guidelines, which state that the minimum acceptable rate for student attendance is 90%. This means that to support your child’s learning and wellbeing, they should attend school at least 90% of the time throughout the year. Regular attendance is vital because it ensures students have full access to the curriculum, participate in all learning opportunities, and maintain social connections with peers and staff.

Students who attend less than 90% of the time are considered to be “educationally at risk.” Being educationally at risk means that students may miss important lessons and learning experiences, leading to gaps in their knowledge and skills. This can affect their academic progress, confidence, and engagement with school. Early identification and support for students at risk help prevent these challenges from becoming barriers to success.

We encourage families to prioritise regular attendance and work closely with the school if there are any difficulties that affect your child’s ability to attend. Together, we can ensure every student has the best chance to thrive both academically and personally.

Does arriving late to school matter?

Arriving at school on time is essential for your child’s success and wellbeing. When students arrive promptly, they have the opportunity to prepare for the day ahead, settle into their classroom routine, and participate fully in important morning activities such as lessons, announcements, or group discussions. Starting the day on time helps children feel organised and ready to learn, which can boost their confidence and focus throughout the day.

Being punctual also teaches valuable life skills like time management, responsibility, and respect for others. It sets a positive example for your child and helps them develop habits that will benefit them throughout their education and future work life.

On the other hand, arriving late can cause your child to miss important instructions or activities, making it harder for them to catch up and feel connected to their classmates. It may also disrupt the class and affect not only their learning but also that of others. Encouraging your child to arrive on time helps create a calm and organised learning environment where every student can thrive.

How to report an absence

It is important that all student absences are explained to the school as soon as possible. This helps us keep accurate attendance records and ensures your child’s safety and wellbeing. Under the Education Act, schools must record reasons for absences and only accept absences that are legally justified, such as illness, family emergencies, or approved leave. Unexplained or unjustified absences may lead to follow-up from the school to support regular attendance.

The are many ways that an absences can be be reported:

• School Bytes parent portal
• Phone call
• Email
• contact the classroom teacher via Seesaw

Understanding unexplained absences

An unexplained absence is when the school has not received any reason from a parent or carer for a student’s absence. When this happens, the school will contact you by the next school day, usually by text message or email, to ask for an explanation. The school will keep trying to make contact until they receive a reason or your child returns to school. If a student is absent for ten or more days in a row without an explanation, the school will begin additional steps to follow up. It’s important to explain all absences so the school can keep accurate records and support your child’s learning.

Our school automatically sends a request for an explanation by email each day a student is absent. A reminder emails is sent each week if an explanation has not been received.

Support for improving attendance

We recognise that there are many reasons why a student’s attendance may be irregular, and we are committed to providing personalised support to help every child attend school regularly. Our approach involves working closely with families, teachers, and specialists to understand and address any challenges that may be affecting attendance. This may include developing individual attendance plans tailored to a student’s specific needs, offering flexible learning options, and providing additional academic or wellbeing support.

Our school also maintains open communication with families, ensuring you are informed and involved in any attendance concerns. We have dedicated staff, such as counsellors and community liaison officers, who can offer guidance and connect families with external services, including health professionals and social support, to help overcome broader barriers. Through positive reinforcement, regular monitoring, and early intervention, we strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel safe, valued, and motivated to come to school every day.

By working together as a community, we can help your child develop healthy attendance habits that support their learning, wellbeing, and overall success.

Attendance and student wellbeing

At our school, we recognise that regular attendance is closely linked to your child’s overall wellbeing. When students attend school consistently, they benefit not only academically but also socially and emotionally. Being present at school helps students build strong friendships, develop a sense of belonging, and feel supported within the school community. These positive connections contribute significantly to their mental and emotional health.

Conversely, irregular attendance can impact a student’s wellbeing by causing them to feel isolated, anxious, or disconnected from their peers and learning environment. Missing school may also increase stress as students struggle to catch up with missed work, which can affect their confidence and motivation. We understand that wellbeing challenges can sometimes make attending school difficult, and we are committed to working with families to provide the right support to overcome these barriers.

By fostering good attendance habits and addressing wellbeing needs together, we aim to create a safe and supportive environment where every student can thrive both personally and academically.

Legal requirements for school attendance

In New South Wales, it is a legal requirement under the Education Act that all children of compulsory school age attend school whenever instruction is provided. This means that regular attendance is not only important for your child’s learning and wellbeing but is also mandated by law. Parents and carers have a responsibility to ensure their child is enroled and attends school every day, unless there is a valid reason for absence such as illness or other exceptional circumstances.

Schools are required to keep accurate attendance records and follow up on unexplained or frequent absences. If a student’s attendance falls below the minimum standard, which is 90%, the school may take additional steps to work with families and provide support. In cases where attendance issues persist, legal action may be considered to ensure compliance with the law and protect the child’s right to education.

Our school is here to support families in meeting these requirements by providing clear information, guidance, and assistance to promote regular attendance and address any challenges. Together, we can ensure your child stays on track for success both in school and beyond.

How we monitor attendance

At our school, monitoring attendance is an important part of supporting your child’s learning and wellbeing. Teachers mark the roll daily to record whether each student is present, absent, or late. Our office staff also carefully record any late arrivals and early departures to keep accurate and up-to-date attendance records.

Every two weeks, the school reviews attendance data to identify both positive attendance habits and any concerning patterns. This regular monitoring helps us quickly recognise students who may need additional support to improve their attendance. By staying on top of attendance information, we can work closely with families to celebrate good attendance and address any challenges early, ensuring every student has the best opportunity to succeed.

Working together: School and families

We believe that strong partnerships between the school and families are key to supporting your child’s regular attendance and overall success. When we work together, we can better understand any challenges your child may be facing and find effective solutions to help them attend school consistently.

Our school encourages open and respectful communication with families, so you can share information about your child’s needs and any reasons for absences. We also provide guidance and resources to support you in encouraging good attendance habits at home. By collaborating closely, we create a supportive network that helps your child feel valued, motivated, and ready to learn each day.

Together, we can make a positive difference in your child’s education and wellbeing by ensuring attendance remains a priority.