Tēnā koutou Mātua mā

“Every school day is a good day”

As you all know we have been trying to implement a variety of strategies, consequences and initiatives to try to support our tamariki to come to Kura on time, every day.

Habitual lateness and absenteeism has become a reality for some and it’s jeopardising the future prospects of our tamariki, your tamariki - it’s devastating.  

This is how attendance rates are defined and we are dedicated to achieving the optimal, of regular attendance because that is what our tamariki deserve.

Student Attendance Rate

•Regular attendance: >90%

•Irregular absence: >80 – 90%

•Moderate absence: >70 – 80%

•Chronic absence: 70% or less

Student wellbeing is seriously jeopardised if tamariki are not attending kura regularly.

Student Wellbeing

More days of non-attendance is associated with worse wellbeing outcomes, including:

•School-work related anxiety

•Decreased sense of belonging

•Fewer friendships with peers

•Exposure to bullying

•Feeling like your teacher is being unfair

Worst of all are the long term effects which have been well researched over many years which have serious consequences for our tamariki.  

Poor attendance increases the risk of poor achievement, which has lifelong negative impacts including lower earnings and employment sustainability.

*Education and earnings, a New Zealand update. Ministry of Education (2020)

International research has also linked lower school attendance to:

•Increased likelihood of dropping out of school earlier

•Social isolation from school and peers

•Poorer mental health and social functioning

•Increased likelihood of criminal activity

•Increased likelihood of requiring social assistance in the future.

*Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (2022) Understanding attendance: A review of the drivers of school attendance and best practice approaches. NSW Department of Education.

We don’t want any of our tamariki to experience these outcomes therefore we intend to go all out with everything we can possibly do to make sure that they don’t.

We can’t provide our tamariki with what they deserve if whānau don’t make sure they prioritise their tamariki coming to kura on time, every day.  

We will support our tamariki to come to kura on time, every day in the following ways:

Strategies

• We are partnering with Blue Light, who work in partnership with the Police - https://bluelight.co.nz/ to report truancy / unjustified non-attendance who also have a range of wrap around services to support our tamariki and their whānau to ensure that tamariki are at Kura on time, every day

• Tamariki monitoring Reward Charts to help our tamariki, help their whānau to get them to Kura on time, every day.  They need you to get them to Kura but they need to cooperate with you so that you can

• 2023 W3 Whānau Attendance Chart.pub (this can be printed and you can add a star, sticker or just a tick when tamariki follow the chart, you can adjust the times to suit your whānau - if anyone wants a laminated copy to use with a marker pen please let us know, there are 2 options

• TRC routines-jobs fs.pdf (this can be printed and you can use these prompts to support your tamariki in te reo Māori to develop their independence and to contribute to chores at home (take responsibility)

• We will be filling their heads with positivity about how much we love seeing them every day, how important they are and reinforcing how capable they can be

• Class attendance charts and class attendance competitions

• Whānau hui

• Attendance reported and highlighted in Student Progress Report

• Initiatives

• Consequences

Initiatives

• Tamariki will continue to enjoy Ngā Whiringa (as per below) if they attend Kura on time, every day for any current week - which has made a huge difference for some tamariki

• It’s devastating to see the same tamariki missing out, time after time because getting them to kura on time, every day isn’t being prioritised

• Even more disappointing is some tamariki are staying home if they don’t meet the criteria making their situation even worse because not only are they are being taught not to take responsibility, again, they are not attending kura

• End of term acknowledgment and a movie ticket

Consequences

• We will report unjustified non-attendance to Blue Light, who work in partnership with the Police - https://bluelight.co.nz/ 

• Tamariki who are not meeting the optimal goal of Regular attendance: >90% will not be able to attend some trips or events like Rainbows End

• We will provide Ngā Whiringa on random days so that not coming to kura because they didn’t meet attendance criteria, needs to stop

• Personal letters will be sent to whānau of tamariki who have high risk non-attendance which will be followed up relentlessly and reporting if need be

Attending School is Compulsory by Law

Children are legally required to be enrolled at and regularly attend school between the ages of six and sixteen. If this doesn’t happen then parents, caregivers, whanau, whoever is ultimately responsible for that child can be prosecuted.  We are required to ensure our tamariki regularly attend kura on time, every day. 

Legal responsibilities and national guidelines for schools on attendance

ATTENDANCE & BEHAVIOUR

Lateness & Absenteeism impacts on inappropriate behaviour which has also created concerning incidents, and we are going to dial in even more to bring about consistent high levels of appropriate and respectful behaviour.  When tamariki struggle with this we expect and need whānau support with any issues and that daily on time attendance is adhered to.  If the need arises we will make contact so that we can work together to support our tamariki to be appropriate, respectful and make better choices.  Keep things simple with this Behaviour Plan that has the ability to support all tamariki and their whānau.

Our communication tools, make sure you have them all and you won’t miss a thing:

• Our kura website

• Etap Caregiver App

• Skool Loop

• Our kura Facebook Page

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