One of the things we as Deputy Principals are continuing to focus on in 2025 is student attendance. You will hear from either of us this year, if your child is having regular missed days at school in 2025.

One of our most important roles in 2025 is helping our tamariki get to school. We are open to meeting with families and talking about how we can help with this. We both consider student attendance highly impactful and beneficial to your child having success at school.

Under the Education and Training Act 2020 (s 45), the principal may allow a student to be absent from school for up to five days if there is a justified reason for absence (e.g. due to illness, a funeral or tangihanga, or other approved reason at the discretion of the school). For planned absences, requests must be made to the principal at least one week before the planned event.

The principal has discretion to approve or deny requests, based on criteria including:

• the benefit to education for the student (including qualifications and experience of course providers as relevant)

• the length of time away from regular school programmes that the activity will require.

This is especially relevant in the case of an extended family holiday during term time.

If a student misses one day of school every two weeks, they miss more than a whole year of school by 16 years of age. As a parent or caregiver, you, alongside our school, play a key role in building strong habits of regular school attendance.

All students are legally required to attend school every day and it is a shared responsibility to make sure students attend and engage in learning from when they first start school.

Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school can be tricky. Health guidance to support you to decide is available:https://info.health.nz/keeping-healthy/healthy-homes-environments/knowing-if-your-child-is-well-enough-to-go-to-school-guidance-for-parents

If you are still unsure, get in touch with us and let’s work together to support your child.

If you are finding it hard to get your child to school, please talk with us so we can work together. Our school is committed to supporting you and your child to attend school.

Our school continues to build a culture that fosters attendance every day by having:

• School staff who have strong relationships with students and family.

• A school culture that recognises your child and your family for who you are, where you come from and what you value.

• A school whānau that takes all practical steps to make sure your child is at school and progressing in their learning.

• A school that is safe and welcoming for everyone in our school community.

Feel free to contact either of us through our admin team to make a time to meet to discuss any concerns you have around your child's attendance. We are always happy to meet and support you in any way we can.

Rebecca Hamilton/Rebecca Best

Deputy Principals

Bluestone School