Student Attendance 

The Education and Training Act 2020 (s35) requires that learners between six  and sixteen years of age must be enrolled at school. Once enrolled it is compulsory to attend school regularly, unless a specific exemption has been approved by the school and the Ministry of Education. The Board takes all reasonable steps to ensure the regular attendance of students. The Board acknowledges the importance of regular attendance to support learner well-being and help them to achieve their educational potential.

Overarching attendance objectives and strategic priorities

Regular school attendance is vital for the success and wellbeing of learners. Attending school every day supports students to build strong foundations for learning and social development. Regular attendance promotes achievement success because they are able to consistently build on their learning. Whānau have a legal obligation to ensure their children attend school.

The government has set a national target of 80% of students attending school at least 90% of the time. This means that students should be absent for no more than one day a fortnight to have continued success at school. This is our target also.

Whānau Responsibilities

  Notify school before 9:10am if child is going to be late or absent= Skool Loop platform.
  Arrange appointments and trips outside of school hours or during the school holidays, where possible.
  Work with the school to manage attendance concerns .

Attendance Management Procedures & Expectations
Our Attendance Management Plan outlines our process for monitoring, supporting and improving attendance so every child can strive to be the best they can be. The Education and Training Act 2020 requires that learners between six  and sixteen years of age must be enrolled at school. Once enrolled it is compulsory to attend school regularly. The Board takes all reasonable steps to ensure the regular attendance of students. This is their  acknowledgement of the importance of regular attendance to support learner well-being and help them to achieve their educational potential.

We regularly communicate with our school community about attendance expectations:
        School newsletter
        Discussion on enrolment
        Phone calls, personalised emails and messages with whānau when/ as needed

Recording Attendance

Attendance registers are official legal documents, audited regularly by the Ministry of Education. Recording attendance electronically highlights patterns of attendance that can then be appropriately managed.

* Classroom Teachers’ Responsibilities
By 9:10 am, record and save attendance information in Edge:

§ Record known absences with the appropriate code:
(Fill the afternoon attendance with the same code, which can be amended if needed.)
M for medical, J for justified, E for explained but not approved reason, D for dental/medical appointment, G in term holiday, Q off-site school activity.
NOTE: If a child attends an appointment in part of the day but does not return, then the other part of the day is potentially recorded as E (MOE).
Removal from class before 2:30pm is to have the afternoon coded as above.
Note time leaving. (Less than two hours of instruction as per MOE guidelines)

§     Amend children who arrive after 9:10 am as L (for late) and note time of arrival.

§     Record children who are absent for an unknown reason with a question mark (?). The attendance officer will change this later if the reason is established.

* Attendance Officer Responsibilities   (usually Office Manager)
At 9.15 am, check absences room by room, and change codes after following up any children who are unexplained absences. Ring/ text/ email supplied contact numbers listed for the student. If reciprocal contact is not made, the attempt at contact is noted, and child marked truant. By end of working day all absences are recorded in Edge.

* Relievers’ Responsibilities

If the reliever does not have access to Edge then they record absences on a class list and send this with a child to the attendance officer. The attendance officer will transfer the information onto Edge.

* Principal’s Responsibilities
Provide termly reports to the Board showing the analysis of data, trends and narratives
Adhere to the STAR thresholds
Check for patterns of attendance / absence and any erroneous coding
Discussions with staff to review the Everyday Matters report and attendance plan, with  purpose of considering updated actions that may need to occur.