Attendance 

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through secondary school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and beyond.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty
• By Year 6, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of secondary school
• By Year 9 regular and high attendance is a better predictor of finishing school rates than academic results in Year 8
• Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s success
• Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks. Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child maximise their full potential

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Make school attendance a priority

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation
• Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep
• Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day
• Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick ‐ complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety

Help your child stay engaged

• Find out if your child feels engaged by his classes and feels safe from bullies and other threats
• Make sure they not missing class because of behavioural issues and school discipline policies 
• If any of these are problems, work with your school.
• Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
• Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
• Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs. 

Communicate with the school

• Know the school’s attendance policy – incentives and consequences
• Find out if your child feels engaged by his classes and feels safe from bullies and other threats.
• Talk to teachers if you notice changes in behaviour ‐ these could be tied to something at school
• Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not piling up
• Ask for help from schools, afterschool programs, other parents or community agencies if you’re having trouble getting your child to school