Attendance Matters
Attendance Matters
Students are expected to have above a 95% school attendance rate because days missed can add up to years lost. That’s why making sure your child comes to school every single day (unless genuinely sick) is important.
Maintaining a school attendance rate, ideally above 95%, is crucial for a student’s academic success and overall development. Here are several reasons why consistent school attendance is important:
- Continuous Learning. Regular attendance ensures that students are consistently exposed to new information and lessons. This continuity is essential for effective learning, as concepts build upon each other over time.
- Development of Learning Skills. School attendance is not only about acquiring knowledge but also about developing essential learning skills. These skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, are honed through active participation in the learning process.
- Establishment of Routine. Consistent attendance helps students establish a routine, promoting organisational skills and time management. These skills are transferable to various aspects of life and contribute to overall success.
If you’re having difficulty getting your child to school on time every day, contact the school so we can work together to find a solution.
Reaching out to the school is a proactive and constructive step if you're experiencing difficulties in getting your child to school on time.
Contact your child's Year Coordinator to discuss any specific challenges your child may be facing. Subject teachers can provide insights into the classroom dynamics and academic progress, helping to identify potential areas of concern.
Collaborate with the school to identify any underlying issues contributing to the difficulty in getting your child to school on time. This could involve academic challenges, social issues, or other factors impacting your child's motivation or wellbeing.
Read about School Avoidance here.
Responding to School Reluctance or Refusal - Strategies for Parents
These guidelines are a general set of recommendations on how you (as a parent or caregiver) can reduce your child’s risk of school refusal and support their mental health and school engagement if they are having problems with school attendance. The strategies included in these guidelines are intended to apply to parents of both primary and secondary school-aged children.
The guidelines may be useful for parents who are worried about their child’s engagement with school and those whose child is already experiencing school reluctance or refusal. Each family is unique, so you may need to adapt these strategies to your specific situation.
These guidelines have been produced by the Parenting Strategies Program (2022). Responding to school reluctance or refusal: Strategies for parents. Melbourne: Monash University.