Student Attendance

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's focus on improved attendance rates reflects the findings of international research that demonstrates a strong correlation between students learning, longer-term life outcomes, attendance at school and appropriate participation in education programs.

It is crucial that children and students develop habits of regular attendance at an early age; even from the time they are enrolled in a pre-school setting.

Poor patterns of attendance place students at risk of not achieving their educational, social and psychological potential and are disadvantaged in the quality of choices they are able to make in later life situations.

Once learners have begun to absent themselves from pre-school or school, and the initial cause of this remains undetected or unexplored, it is likely that the pattern of absence will continue and escalate through the subsequent school career.

For more information about school attendance, see:

• It's Not OK to Be Away (initiative) 
• Student Engagement Policy Guidelines  
• Compliance Framework | Education Authority Accountability Requirements for roll marking and monitoring of attendance. 

If your child is absent from school, please ensure that when they return to school that you have supplied them with a note stating the reason for absence. For your convenience, you may download and print a template here.