Attendance

PT ENGLAND SCHOOL POLICY

ATTENDANCE

INTRO:

Full attendance at school is a pre-requisite for the successful education of children. It is the role of the Board of Trustees to ensure attendance is adequate so that this is achieved.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To ensure both parent and school are aware of where the child is during school hours.

2. To work steadily towards achieving the national goal of "80% of the children attending 90% of the time

2. To identify children who have irregular attendance patterns.

3 .To monitor children's daily attendance, twice a day.

4. To ensure that, where attendance is a concern, the parent/caregiver  is made aware of the situation and we are working together to improve it.

5. To use all available means to ensure attendance irregularities are rectified.

6. To follow the "STAR" Guidelines set by the crown to improve attendance and track toward achieving the Crown Goals of  "80% of the children 90% of the time"

7. When necessary, under the STAR Guidelines, to refer matters to the appropriate agency having taken all necessary steps.

GUIDELINES:

1. Y1 - Y6 learners are expected to be in attendance daily by 8.50am, Y7 - Y8 Learners by 8:30 a.m.

2. Teachers are to ensure that the register is marked in Assembly as soon as possible after the beginning of the morning session and immediately after lunch unless some special programme precludes this. Staff will be regularly reminded to use the correct codes, mark the roll twice a day and not leave 

3. The Attendance Officer will monitor attendance daily and report to the A.P's any irregular patterns or unexplained absences.

4. The Admin staff/P.A will notify parents daily of absences of concern

5. Parents are expected to notify the school no later than the day following an absence of the reason for such absence

6. Where notification is not forthcoming a formal request will be issued by the class teacher.

7. If communication is not achieved, the A.P's or the teacher responsible for Student Care & Management will make home contact to discuss the matter with the parents. The Attendance Team will discuss weekly the list of children in "Amber or Red" zones (up to 15 days absent/term or 15 days plus absent/term)

8. The Home Visitor will respond daily to the list of concern and follow a variety responses using phone, text and home visits

9. If attendance problems continue, referrals will be made through the Attendance Officer to Oranga Tamariki, the NZ Police and to ATWC

10. We issue a formal letter to parents informing them of referral to agencies when other measures fail.

11. We have decided to use personal phone calls and home visits rather than web to text as they are more effective

12. We offer Team based and Whole School based prizes for attendance & communicate regularly about the importance of attending school every day for well children.

13. We unenrol children who will not be returning to school

Formulated: 1990

Reviewed:1993

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