Policy All children need to attend school on a regular basis to gain maximum benefit from schooling in order to optimise their life opportunities.
Developing the habit of going to school every day is vitally important so your child does not miss out on important ideas, concepts, knowledge and skills they need for future learning.
Going to school every day helps children learn the important life skill of ‘showing up’ – at school, at work, to sport and other commitments.
Some common problems you may have getting your child to school:
They won’t get out of bed in the morning.
They go to bed late at night.
They can’t find their uniform, books or school bag.
They are slow to eat breakfast.
They haven’t done their homework or are avoiding a test or assignment.
They are watching television or playing video games before school.
Did you know?
In the early years of school, many concepts, such as literacy and numeracy, are taught in a sequence. This means that if your child is often away from school, it can make it difficult to catch up later.
The Western Australian Telethon Kids Institute has found that the attendance habits set in Kindergarten and Pre-Primary are likely to continue throughout a child’s school life, so it is important for them to go to school every day.
The School Education Act 1999 requires all enrolled students to attend every day that their school is open.
What can you do? It is an exciting time for the whole family when your child starts school. You can help to make sure they have a positive first experience by providing your child with routines that help them know what to expect and feel secure in new environments. This can reduce their anxiety about going to school and help them develop independence and confidence.
Absences Attendance registers are recorded at the start of the morning and afternoon sessions. Children who arrive later than 30 minutes after the commencement time of instruction will be recorded absent for the half day and will require a late slip from the school office before entering the classroom.
An OK reason is one that prevents your child from getting to school. This could include:
when your child is sick or unwell
attending cultural or religious observances such as sorry time and funerals
an unavoidable natural event such as flood waters or a cyclone
an unavoidable medical appointment
The principal decides if the reason given for your child’s absence is acceptable.
It’s NOT OK to miss school if your child:
is celebrating a birthday
is going on a family holiday
is visiting family and friends
has slept in or had a big weekend
is looking after other children
has sport or other recreational activities that have not been approved by the school
has appointments such as haircuts and minor check ups
If possible, routine medical and other health appointments should be made either before or after school, or during the school holidays.
Do you need to let the school know if your child will be away from school? Yes, you need to let the [teacher, front office, year coordinator, student services, principal] know the reason why your child is going to be, or has been, absent from school as soon as possible. Where possible, please discuss any upcoming absences in advance so we can let you know of important learning or activities your child will miss out on.
This requires a responsible person, usually a parent, to provide a reason for the absence within three school days.
Having information about why your child is missing school helps us plan for their return to school and work out whether we can provide any further help to you.
Leaving School Site The school is responsible for all children whilst they are at school and we take this responsibility most seriously. Therefore children will not be able to leave the school site unaccompanied.
Occasionally there is a need for a child to leave the school to go to appointments with parents/guardians. If this situation arises, you are required to sign your child/children out of the school through the Sign In/Out Register located in the Front Office.
Standard procedures are in place to cover situations where access to a child is covered by court order or other legal arrangement. Special procedures are adopted if the Police wish to remove a child from the school.
Children will not be released unless we are certain that there is no danger to the child by doing so.
Student Transfers When transfer of a child to another school is anticipated we would appreciate advance notice given so that records and details of achievement can be finalized ready for forwarding to the new school. These items are forwarded by post to the new school in accordance with the Department of Education Western Australia’s student transfer process, on receipt of a Transfer Note from that school.