The Wyndham Way

Attendance

Expectations

Students are expected to attend school 100% of the time, as per both the Education Act and the Community Services Act. Students with high attendance are more successful as they feel more confident with their learning and more connected to their peers. If your child is unwell or has been absent, enter this on Compass or contact the school and ensure that your child brings a note on their return, including their name, tutor class and reason within three school days to explain his/her absence. 

For further information please see the Attendance Policy on Compass or the Department of Education parent website.

Attendance / Non Attendance Process 

Please report all known absences to the Attendance Officer, Ms. Carol Mills by: 

Notifying the school of your child's absence either prior to, or on the day that they will be away, helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibility

Fact sheet for parents/carers from the Department of Education 

If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify their school as soon as possible on the day of absence using one of the following methods:

  1. Online: Log the absence directly using our school’s IT platform - Compass
  2. Telephone: The school’s Attendance Officer, Mrs. Carol Mills on 03 87448900 (Option 1 for attendance) and let her know your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason. 
  3. Email: Your child’s tutor teacher, via Compass and provide the staff with your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason for absence.

Why do I need to notify the school if my child is absent?

Schools need to know when and why a child is absent and you need to know if your child isn’t at school. 

All Victorian government schools are required to contact parents/carers as soon as practicable on the same day of an unexplained student absence. If your child is absent on a particular day and you have not contacted the school to explain why, the absence will be marked as unexplained.

This system also promotes daily school attendance. Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education, they learn new things every day – missing school puts them behind.

 

What is your responsibility?

You are legally required to ensure your child attends school every day or you must provide an explanation for their absence. You should let the school know in advance of any upcoming absences or let them know in the morning if your child won’t be at school. In order for schools to implement the same day notification requirement, it’s essential that you provide the school with your most up-to-date contact details.

Generally, one notification will be sent per family. Should there be circumstances that require both parents and carers to be notified, please contact the school to make the necessary arrangements. 

 

What is the school’s responsibility?

The school must notify you of an unexplained absence in relation to your child as soon as practicable on the same day. 

Schools will let you know either by your school’s online communications app, SMS, phone call or email. If you can’t be reached because the school does not have your correct contact details (i.e. changed phone number, SMS/email failure notification received etc.), the school will attempt to make contact with any emergency contact/s nominated on your child’s file held by the school. Where possible, this contact will be made on the same day of the unexplained absence.

 

Where can I learn more about the process for managing student absences? 

Ask the school for a copy of the Attendance Policy which outlines the school’s processes and procedures for monitoring, recording and following-up of student absences.