Support through our attendance advisor at Te Runanga O Nga Wairiki Ngati Apa - Te Puna.

Te Puna is a branch of Te Runanga O Nga Wairiki Ngati Apa that is assigned to help schools in the Rangitikei with students who are not in school as often as they should be.

On average, our ākonga miss one day a week of school, every week. This does not support a student to succeed academically or socially. Imagine losing a days pay each week and see how that affects your ability to get by. This is what it is like for our students at school.

Students who miss class also miss opportunities to understand what is going on. We read books over multiple days, as writing becomes more complex it may take 2-3 days to complete, we teach how to play games for PE so that they can play them again in the future. Each day missed is a day that creates confusion for our learners.

Ākonga are assessed on an attendance rate of 90%. This allows for medical reasons for absence. Schools with poor attendance are expected to come under increasing scrutiny.

Over the next few weeks I will be asking to meet with families whose children are away from school more than 20% of the time. This equates to roughly 40 of our students. Once we have met, we will advise Te Puna that we have started communications. Te Puna is there to support the school and to support families in getting our ākonga back into school.