Attendance Matters

Regularly attending school really matters, right from the first days at primary school to the end of secondary school.  Going to school every day is really important if children are to achieve and succeed. As parents and carers, it's up to you to make sure your child attends school every day, from when they first start school until they are 16.  Schools, along with you as parents and guardians, are also legally responsible for making sure students attend school.  

Importance of attendance

Children and young people need every opportunity to learn and participate in school.

Attending school is key to setting our young people up for life, as well as being required by law. If your child is under 16 years old, they must go to school every day, unless they are sick.

If a child or young person stops attending school regularly, it becomes harder for them to stay connected to school friends and teachers, and harder to catch up with work they have missed.

Southbridge School responsibilities for student attendance

Our school is responsible for the first response to any absences.

Our school must:

• have an attendance policy
• communicate your attendance rules to students and their families
• follow up on absences
• record and monitor attendance and absence data
• work to improve attendance.

Attendance rules include:

• being on time for school and class, and
• information on how unexplained absences will be followed up.

Improving attendance might include working with families to help students return to school.

Southbridge School Attendance Policy

Southbridge School encourages students to participate fully in school life. Students are expected to attend school when required and to be on time for classes. This policy applies for off-site activities as well, such as EOTC activities.

We monitor the daily attendance of students to:

• ensure their safety both in getting to school and in accounting for them in an emergency
• identify students with achievement, engagement, or other issues
• meet our legal responsibilities.

Parents and guardians also have legal obligations to ensure their children attend school. The school expects parents to:

• notify the school if their child is going to be absent by phone, text, or email by 9.15 am (phone 324 2545 / text 021 02485487 / email admin@southbridge.school.nz )
• try to arrange appointments etc. outside school hours or in holidays
• work with the school to manage any attendance issues.

Absences are usually unjustified unless the student is too sick to attend school, or has suffered a bereavement. Sometimes a student might be out of class but should still be marked present, such as when attending a medical appointment. For a full list of absence codes, see Attendance Matters. Holidays should only be taken during school holidays.

Unacceptable levels of absence

Attendance is monitored through our student management system (SMS), and parents are notified of absences and/or patterns of absences. The school follows up on unacceptable levels of absence (10 half-days per term) and may refer the case to the Attendance Service.

Leaving school during the day

Students may not leave the school during school hours except by special arrangement – for example, a parent request (verbal or written) for the student to attend a medical appointment. The student must sign out at the office.

If a student becomes ill at school, we inform the whānau and ask the child to be picked up so they can recover at home while ill.

Out of school tuition and activities

Any request from a parent for their child to attend a programme or activity off-site during school hours must be made at least one week before the planned event. The request is approved or declined entirely at the discretion of the principal who considers each application on its merits, using the following criteria:

• The specific relevance and benefit to the student’s education and their learning and development goals.
• The length of time away from regular school programmes that the activity will require.
• The qualifications and experience of the course provider.

If permission is granted for a student to attend such a programme, they are marked as present for that time, with a comment about their attendance at the programme.

Lateness

All students who arrive late MUST SIGN IN at the front office with an explanation as to why they are late. Student lateness will be recorded on their attendance record and if a pattern is formed whānau will be informed and a plan will be established to ensure the student arrives at school ready to start each day by 9am.

Frequently Asked Questions From MoE Website

Does my child have to go to school every day?

Yes, your child must go to school every day. Under the Education Act 1989, parents and carers of school children up to 16 years old can be prosecuted if their child is away from school without a good reason.

Why do they need to go every day?

Going to school every day really is the key to getting the best out of school because:

• it sets up good habits for going to school right from day one
• learning to read, write and do maths takes a lot of practice and is easier to master if your child goes to school regularly
• each day is a chance to learn something new
• school offers your child regular, dedicated help to master the many skills they need
• it teaches your child life skills like commitment, being reliable, having a good work ethic and sticking with things when they get hard.

What about my 5 year old?

Even though you don’t legally have to enrol your child at school until they turn 6 most children in New Zealand start school when they are 5.

Once your child has started school they need to attend every day. School used to be compulsory from age 6, but the law changed in July 2017, and now children need to attend every day from when they first start school.

If your child is going to be away from school for any reason you should always follow the school’s process to let them know. They need to know the reason that your child is away and that they are safe.

What if my child needs to be away from school?

Your child should go to school every day. But sometimes they might need to be away from school because they are too sick to attend, have an appointment or need to be at a tangi or funeral.

If your child is going to be away from school you should let the school know as soon as possible. Check what your school’s process is for letting them know about absences. You will need to let them know that your child will be away, why and for how long.

Your child’s safety and wellbeing is a priority for the school. If your child doesn’t turn up to school they will be concerned for their safety. If the school doesn’t hear from you, they will get in touch with you to make sure your child is okay.

If your child is going to be away for several days for a justified absence (medical treatment, illness, bereavement), you can talk to their teacher about getting some work to do while they are away, however this is not a school expectation or compulsory, we support children taking the time they need to recover for an illness or loss.  The school is not expected to supply schoolwork for students who are out of school for an unjustified reason e.g. family holiday. 

Can I take my child out of school during term time to go on holiday?

No, a holiday is not a good enough reason to take your child out of school, so holidays should be planned outside of term time.

Events like a birthday or a special day’s shopping aren’t considered valid reasons for being away from school either, nor is a child feeling tired or anxious about going to school.  We encourage parents to try and do their best to form good habits around attending school by reinforcing to their child that attending school is required by law and that all children in New Zealand must attend school each day unless they are sick or have a bereavement.

What if my child is often off school sick?

If your child misses a lot of school because of a serious illness you may be able to get help from a regional health school.

There are three regional health schools, based in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Together they service the whole country, including remote areas. The teachers can work with children both at home and in hospital.

What can I do to make sure my child is going to school?

The key here is to make school the priority. There are things you can do at home, and things you can work side by side with the school on.

At home

• talk to your children about why it is important to go to school every day – ask them what they want to be in the future. Their education is the key to doing well in life
• be positive about school
• set good habits about going to school from day one
• prepare your children the night before school - have their lunch packed, uniform ready
• have a good morning routine that gets them to school on time, relaxed and with everything they need
• don't let them have the day off just because they would rather be at home
• keep absences due to sickness to times when your child is actually sick - don't keep them at home when you know that they are just nervous about school – talk to the school who can help your child overcome this
• know about your child's school life - ask questions, listen to your child. This will make it easier to pick up on any issues they might be having
• keep family holidays outside of term-time, as every day at school is an opportunity to build skills, and repetition is critical for learning – especially for primary school children
• don’t overload them – school may be exhausting for your child so make sure they have some downtime after school to relax and have a break.

Working with the school

• build a strong relationship with the school and teachers to improve communication – it’s easier to talk to them if a problem arises
• get involved with the school - volunteer for parent help, go on school trips, help out on the PTA. It helps you to get to know the teacher and the school, and it shows your child that you prioritise their schooling
• learn your school’s process for letting them know about absences, and contact them as soon as you know your child is not going to be at school that day
• talk to the teacher or principal if your child is reluctant to go to school, and work together to problem solve.

What can I do if my child refuses to go to school?

This can be really upsetting. Talk to your child about why they don’t want to go. Be supportive. There may be a reason, like:

• not getting on with some of the other children
• bullying
• feeling too much pressure in their learning
• a health issue, like wetting their pants
• a problem with their teacher or another staff member.

Talk to your child’s teacher or principal straight away. Whatever the reason, you won’t be the first parent to talk to the school about that type of situation. Your school will have some good advice, and you’ll be able to work together to help your child.

If you have a really serious concern about a teacher or other staff member or suspect your child is in danger you can contact the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Education Council or the New Zealand Police.

For more information, please see the Ministry of Education document "Attendance Matters: Guidelines for Implementing an Effective Attendance Management Plan"