POPS Paper

Student Wellbeing

Every Day Counts – Why School Attendance Matters at POPS

At POPS, we know that coming to school every day is one of the most important things your child can do for their learning, friendships, and overall wellbeing. Every day missed is a missed opportunity to learn, connect and grow.

Why Does Attendance Matter?

When students attend school regularly, they build strong learning habits, stay connected with their peers, and develop confidence. Each school day builds on the last, whether it’s a maths lesson, a reading activity, a chance to be picked for a team, or time spent with friends.

Even missing just one day every few weeks adds up. Over 13 years of schooling, that can mean more than 1.5 years of lost learning.

There’s no safe number of days to miss – every day truly counts.

Good Habits Start Early

Children who develop strong attendance habits in the early years are more likely to continue them throughout school. Regular attendance helps your child succeed – not just in reading, writing and maths, but in friendships, confidence, and long-term outcomes.

Did You Know?

  • Missing 10% of the school year (around 18 days) can make it harder for children to learn to read.
  • Even a day or two off every few weeks can add up and affect progress.
  • Being late regularly can impact learning and lead to disengagement.
  • Absences don’t just affect one child; they can slow down learning for the whole class.
  • Good attendance supports better outcomes in high school, further study and future work.

If Your Child Needs to Be Away

We understand that sometimes being away from school is unavoidable. The most common reasons include:

  • Illness: Please keep your child home if they’re genuinely unwell. Healthy habits like sleep, good nutrition, and staying active help reduce sick days.
  • “Just a day off” – Think twice. Even one day away can make it harder to keep up and stay connected.
  • School reluctance: If your child is hesitant about attending, please speak with us. We’re here to listen and support your child to feel safe and settled at school.

What to Do If Your Child Is Away

  • Let us know the reason as soon as you can.
  • Stay in touch with your child’s teacher to help them catch up on any missed learning.
  • If your child will be away for more than a few days, we can help put together a simple plan to support their learning.

Working Together

We want to work in partnership with you. If you're finding it difficult to get your child to school regularly, please reach out. Open and honest communication with your child’s teacher is the best way to catch small issues before they become bigger ones.

A Reminder

In Victoria, it is a legal requirement for children aged 6 to 17 to attend school. Chronic non-attendance may be followed up by the Department of Education.

Tips for Supporting School Attendance

✅Talk positively about school and the importance of being there every day.

✅Create consistent routines for sleep, mornings, and meals.

✅Try to schedule appointments outside school hours.

✅   Plan family holidays during school breaks.

✅  Let us know early if you're concerned about your child’s wellbeing or attendance, we're here to help.

Let’s work together to support every child to attend, engage and thrive at POPS. Because every day counts.