Regular school attendance
Why must I send my child to school?
Education in New South Wales is compulsory for all children between the ages of six years and below the minimum school leaving age. From 2010, all New South Wales students must complete Year 10. After Year 10 - and until they turn 17 - students must be:
- in school, or registered for home schooling, or
- in approved education or training (eg TAFE, traineeship, apprenticeship) or
- in full-time, paid employment(average 25 hours/week) or
- in a combination of work, education and/or training.
Once enrolled children are required to attend school each day it is open for instruction.
Principals are legally responsible for maintaining accurate records of student attendance. When reasons for absences are provided to the school by parents, principals are accountable for their decision to record a student's absence as justified. Principals may decline to accept as satisfactory an explanation for an absence and will record that absence as unjustified.
Principals may request medical certificates or other documentation when absences explained as being due to illness are frequent or prolonged. It is the responsibility of parents or carers to make sure that their children attend school each day that the school is open for instruction or other activity. It is important to understand that parents (including carers) may be prosecuted if children of compulsory school age have recurring numbers of unjustified absences from school.
Must I send my child every day?
YES: for your child's whole educational career. This is a time where your child's teacher can focus carefully on your child's learning needs for the future. Secondly, having a good routine and being punctual are important skills for your child to develop.
Why is regular attendance school important?
Regular school attendance will help your child to succeed in later life.
Attending school every day makes learning easier for your child and helps build and maintain friendships with other children.
If your child misses learning the basic skills in the early years of school, they may develop learning problems in later years.
What should I do if our family is going on holiday in school time?
Families should try to arrange holidays during school vacations.
If your family holiday is during school time, inform the school principal in advance and request leave and/or an exemption from school.
Depending on the circumstances and duration of leave, you may ask the school to provide tasks that can be completed while your child is absent.
Must my child attend all activities, including daily fitness and sport?
YES. Sport and other fun activities help the healthy physical development of children. As a normal school activity, students must attend.
Do not keep your child away from school for the following:
- Birthdays
- Shopping
- Minding other children
- For routine check-ups or care such as hair cuts
- Minor family events.
Medical and other health appointments for your child with specialists such as dentists or doctors should be made either before or after school or during the school holidays.
What should I do if my child has to stay away from school?
It is important to let the school know when your child will be away and the reason for your child's absence.
All absences must be explained to the school at which the child is enrolled. The principal of the school has the right to question parents' or carers' requests for their child to be absent from school, or an explanation given for a child's absence from school.
My child won't go to school. What should I do?
You should contact the principal as soon as possible to discuss the issue and ask for help. The principal may seek support from a home school liaison officer or Aboriginal student liaison officer, regional officers who support school, you and the school to discuss the issues and provide support.
Who are home school liaison officers and Aboriginal student liaison officers?
Home school liaison officers and Aboriginal student liaison officers have been specially trained to help you with your child's attendance.
They work with school communities to encourage all students to maintain regular patterns of attendance.
For further information about the Home School Liaison Program you should contact the program manager at your local Department of Education and Training regional office. Contact numbers can be found at the website address: www.det.nsw.edu.au/contactus/index. htm or by telephoning 131 536.
Do you have problems with getting your child to school, for some of the following reasons?
- Won't get out of bed
- Won't go to bed
- Can't find their clothes, books, homework, school bag …
- School lunches not ready
- Dawdles over breakfast
- Homework not done
- Watching television late at night or when they should be getting ready for school
- Mum planning a day out
- Test / presentation at school
Here are some suggestions which are based on ‘setting regular routines'
- Have a set time to be out of bed
- Have a set time to go to bed
- Make lunches the night before
- Have a set time for starting/ending breakfast. A routine is important.
- Set time for daily homework activities
- Turn the television on for a set time and only if appropriate
- Be firm, children must go to school
- Provide lots of positive encouragement
- Be firm, a birthday is not a holiday