Attendance Matters

Finishing Strong: The Importance of Attendance Until the End of the School Year

As the school year draws to a close, it can be tempting to think that the final weeks don’t matter as much.  However, maintaining regular attendance right up to the last day is one of the best ways for students to finish strong and prepare for future success.

Consistent attendance supports learning in powerful ways:  

• Each day of instruction builds on the last
• Important new material, assessments, and projects often take place near the end of the year
• When students are present, they stay engaged with their classmates, continue to practice important skills, and benefit from their teachers’ ongoing feedback and support

Good attendance helps students develop responsibility and perseverance—habits that extend far beyond the classroom. Showing up every day demonstrates commitment and pride in one’s education, setting a positive example for all.

Let’s work together to make these last six weeks of school productive, engaging, and full of learning.  Attendance matters—from the first day to the last!

Extended Absence Requirements

From time to time, students are required to be absent for an extended period of time. While this is not encouraged, it is understood that it sometimes can not be avoided.

A Student Absence Learning Plan (SALP) is a structured plan to support a student’s learning when they are absent for an extended period of time, usually for legitimate reasons such as:

• Illness or injury
• Family travel
• Personal or family circumstances
• Approved participation in elite sports, arts, or cultural programs

The main goal of a SALP is to minimise disruption to learning and ensure that students can continue making progress while away from school.

The Department of Education recommends that a SALP be implemented for any known student absence of five or more consecutive school days, to ensure that learning continues and attendance requirements are maintained in accordance with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.

If your child will be absent from school for five or more consecutive school days, please email lyndhurst.ps@education.vic.gov.au at least four weeks before your departure to begin the SALP process.

Please note: The Family Holiday attendance code can only be used when an SALP has been arranged.  If a plan is not in place, the absence will be recorded as Parent Choice U—even if your child is away for an extended period.