Spotlight on Attendance: Every Day Counts

Dear Families

Regular attendance remains vital for your child's success, influencing both academic achievement and social development. Each day spent at school is an opportunity for learning, growth, and connection—with even a few missed days making a noticeable difference over time.

Australia continues to see strong attendance rates, with around 75% of students attending at least 90% of school days. However, approximately 25% of students are missing more than 10% of school days—adding up to a month or more of missed learning every year. Over the course of primary school (6-7 years), missing just a few days here and there quickly accumulates. For example, being absent five days each term results in 20 days missed per year. Over seven years, that's 140 days—or almost a whole school year lost.

Missing a day or arriving late occasionally might not seem significant, but these absences add up, impacting both learning and social engagement. Research consistently shows that authorised absences (such as illness) still affect academic progress, while unauthorised absences can have an even greater impact, increasing the risk of students disengaging from school.

To address attendance concerns, our school takes a partnership approach—working with families and the wider community to support every child:

We carefully monitor individual attendance, identify students at risk, and implement targeted interventions.
We build positive relationships with families, encouraging a sense of belonging and the importance of attendance from the earliest years.

Prioritising daily attendance helps ensure every student has the best chance to thrive academically and socially throughout their educational journey.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to your child’s learning.

Kind regards

Kristian Mundy

Principal, Woodville Gardens School Birth–6

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