Attendance remains a priority for the Ministry of Education, and schools across New Zealand are being asked to track and improve student attendance.

The Ministry of Education expects that at least 80% of students attend more than 90% of the school term.

At Upper Harbour Primary, we are committed to ensuring our students are at school and actively engaged in their learning. Our School Annual Plan reflects this commitment with a goal to "Improve student attendance by actively monitoring and responding to trends, ensuring all students are engaged in learning."

In Term 4 of 2024, our overall attendance rate was 74%, which is below the target.

To support this, we monitor attendance closely and make contact with families when students fall below the attendance target. This includes:

• Informing parents at the end of each term when attendance is below 90%.

• Requesting meetings if attendance is consistently concerning.

• Making referrals to the Ministry of Education when attendance drops below 70%.

We know that some families choose to take extended trips during term time; however, under Ministry of Education guidelines, these will be classified as unjustified absences. The Ministry is now collecting daily attendance data, and so we strongly encourage families to plan overseas travel outside of term time.

Lateness Reminder
A further reminder that our school day begins with waiata and karakia at 8:55am. Children should be at school and ready to participate in these important practices. Arriving on time helps your child start the day with a positive, focused mindset.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring your child is at school and engaged in learning every day.

For more information on attendance expectations, please read here.