Following the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic), schooling is compulsory for children and young people aged from 6 to 17 years unless an exemption has been granted. Parents/carers must enrol a child of compulsory school age at a registered school and always ensure the child attends school when the school is open for instruction.

For absences where there is no exemption in place, the parent/carer must explain on each occasion the reason for the absence from the school. The school will determine if the reason provided is an acceptable reason for the parent to meet their responsibilities.

Why Attendance is Important

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begin with students coming to school every day. If students miss school regularly, they miss out on learning the fundamental skills that will set them up for success in the later years of school.  There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes. Each missed day is associated with progressively lower achievement in Numeracy, Writing, and Reading.

To encourage attendance, Whittlesea Primary School:

• Has an Attendance Policy as part of their Student Engagement Policy
• Maintains attendance records
• Identifies and follows up on unexplained absences
• Records student attendance twice per day (Primary Schools)
• Records, in writing, the reason given for each absence (Compass note/entry)
• Advises parents/carers of unexplained absences, as soon as practicable on the same day of the absence (10.00 am SMS)

Attendance Tips for Parents

• Schools want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support
• Remember that every day counts
• There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness
• Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day
• Open and prompt communication with your child’s school about all absences is a good idea
• Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term

Please contact the school for help if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and/or wellbeing. Whittlesea Primary School wants to work in partnership with all families to help all students attend school every day.