Resources for Parents 

Department of Education Attendance Resources 

Top attendance tips for parents:

• Schools want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s school and asking for advice and support
• Remember that every day counts.
• There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness.
• Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day
• Open and prompt communication with your child’s school about all absences is a good idea.
• Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term.
• Seek help from your school if you are concerned about your child’s attendance and wellbeing. Schools want to work in partnership with parents to support student attendance and wellbeing.

Compass SMS Alerts and Absences

Attendance

SMS is being used to confirm with families that their child is not at school when the morning rolls are marked. 

This means at 9.45am, if your child has not arrived at school and you have not informed the school via Compass that day or prior to the day, an automated SMS will be sent to you as confirmation that your child is in your care and not at school.

Please Attend to Absences

If you have a notification on your Newsfeed that there are outstanding absences awaiting your approval, you must approve them.

It is a parent's responsibility to notify the school of an absence and it has always been the case.  Prior to Compass, you would have physically written a note; now you do so electronically - it is actually easier.  Student Rolls are a legal requirement (Education and Training Reform Act 2006) and it is your responsibility to help us maintain them by promptly informing us of the reason for your child's absence.

• Whole day absences can be approved beforehand;

• Part day absences should only be approved after the fact - parents SHOULD NOT put in part day absences beforehand.

In accordance with the school’s Attendance Policy, if no explanation is provided by the parent within 10 school days of an absence, it will be recorded as an ‘unexplained absence’ on the student’s file.

If you need assistance with approving an absence, please see the instructions on Compass.  These can be found in the Community section - School Documentation - School Community Information - Compass-Approving an Absence.