A word about attendance

Welcome back to term 2. It has been lovely to reconnect as a school community this week and to hear about how staff members and families spent the Easter break. We are looking forward to an action-packed term and are excited about the many great things that are coming up.

As we return to normal after the last few covid-affected years, schools across the government system are paying very close attention to school attendance and are stressing the importance of children being at school every day and on time.

After so much missed time, it is so important that students get back into the habit of attending school each day and make up for learning missed during the pandemic.

Attendance is one of the most important factors that contribute to a student's success in school. Regular attendance at school is crucial for a child's academic, social, and emotional development.

When a student misses a day of school, they miss out on valuable learning opportunities. Consistent attendance ensures that students don't miss learning about important concepts and skills. It also helps students stay engaged and on track with their learning, reducing the likelihood of falling behind.

In addition to academic success, regular attendance also supports social and emotional growth. When students attend school regularly, they have the opportunity to develop relationships with their peers and teachers. They also learn valuable life skills, such as teamwork, responsibility, and time management.

A student having a school attendance rate below 90% is classed as chronic absenteeism. It equates to being away from school for one day a fortnight.

Extended over 13 years of schooling, this equals 1.5 years of school missed.

Chronic absenteeism has been linked to lower academic achievement, increased dropout rates, and even poorer life and health outcomes. Therefore, it's essential that students attend school regularly to avoid falling into this category.

Last year at SKiPPS, 46% of our students fell into this category of chronic absenteeism. Of this group, almost half missed 30 or more days of school - the equivalent of six weeks or an attendance rate of below 85%.

The average number of absences per student in 2022 was 23.9 days away from school. This is close to five weeks absence and an average attendance rate of 88%.

Whilst we understand that 2022 wasn't a typical year with regular covid-enforced isolation periods, other illnesses and some long-overdue overseas travel, these numbers are alarming and something that we need your help to address.

Please read the 'Top Attendance Tips for Parents' below, taken from the Education Department website.

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
“Day off” – Think twice before letting your child have a “day off” as this will have a negative impact on their schooling.
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
Sickness – There are always times when students need to miss school, such as when they’re ill. It’s vital that they’re only away on the days they are genuinely sick, and setting good sleep patterns, eating well and exercising regularly can make a big difference.
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

You can view your child's 2023 attendance on Compass. On the homepage, click on 'Profile' and then the 'Attendance' tab. This will allow you to see their attendance for the entire year and, at the bottom of the page, their attendance percentage (the 'schl' % column).

If your child is tracking at anything less than 95% for the year, we encourage you to work with us to improve this.

As a school, we are committed to supporting students and families in ensuring regular attendance. We understand that there may be many circumstances that prevent students from attending school regularly and are here to help you address these and set up positive habits.

If it is unavoidable that your child is absent, it is vital that you provide a reason for the absence - the easiest way to do this is also via Compass.

We encourage parents to help their children understand the importance of attendance and to make it a priority. By working together, we can help ensure that every student has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in promoting regular attendance

Neil Scott

Principal

Kids Unlimited

Coding, Robotics and Chess classes at SKIPPS