Attendance Matters 

🏫 Every Day Counts: Why School Attendance Matters

Did you know that missing just one day a fortnight adds up to four weeks of lost learning every single year? By the time your child reaches Year 10, that minor pattern translates into more than a full year of missed schooling.

The Victorian Department of Education’s Every Day Counts initiative reminds us that there is no safe number of days to miss school.

When students take unnecessary days off—whether for birthdays, term-time holidays, or "wellbeing days" when they are not genuinely sick—it impacts them in ways we might not see right away:

• 📉 Scaffolded Learning: Primary school concepts build on each other daily. Missing today's lesson makes tomorrow's math or reading block much harder to follow.
• 🤝 Social Connections: School is where friendships are made and maintained. Regular absences can lead to social isolation and make your child feel left out of classroom routines.
• 🛑 Classroom Disruption: When students miss school, teachers must spend valuable class time catching them up, which impacts the learning momentum for everyone.

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Unless your child is unwell, please help them build excellent habits by ensuring they are at school, on time, every single day.

If your child is anxious about attending or struggling with school refusal, please reach out to their classroom teacher so we can support your family.

Everyday Examples of Unnecessary Days Off

While illnesses are unavoidable reasons to stay home, the Victorian Department of Education Guidelines urge parents to think twice before allowing children to skip school for reasons that are not genuine medical emergencies.

Common examples of absences that undermine a child's access to the curriculum include:

• "Wellbeing Days" or "Mental Health Days": Keeping a child home because they "just don't feel like going" often creates a harder return cycle, worsening anxiety and disconnection the following day.
• Birthdays and Celebrations: Missing a full day of structured math and literacy blocks to celebrate a birthday at home.
• Family Errands and Shopping Trips: Taking a child along for retail shopping or routine appointments that could be scheduled outside of school hours.
• Term-Time Family Holidays: Booking cheaper travel or extending long weekends during active school terms.

Working with Your School

In Victoria, parents are legally required to ensure their compulsory-school-aged children attend every day, and they must notify the school immediately of any absence. 

If your child is struggling with school refusal or anxiety, please consult the Vic Gov Attendance Support resources or contact your primary school’s classroom teacher early to map out an attendance support plan.