Attendance Plan 2025

Attendance Management Plan
Approval:  17 Oct 2025

Published on: www.tawhero.school.nz
Effective date: 17 Oct 2025
Review date:17 Oct 2026
Overarching attendance objectives and strategic priorities

Regular attendance is essential for every tamaiti to achieve their full potential. Attendance directly supports student wellbeing, belonging, engagement, and achievement. Consistent presence at school builds strong relationships, fosters learning progress, and helps tamariki feel connected to their peers, kaiako, and kura community.

Improving attendance is a collective responsibility that aligns with our values of whakapono, tumanako, and aroha.

Strategic Alignment
This plan supports our:

Strategic Goal 1: Every tamaiti is engaged in meaningful learning every day.
Strategic Goal 2: Strengthen partnerships with whānau to promote wellbeing and success.
Annual Implementation Plan 2025: Increase overall attendance rates to 90% or higher for all learners.
Current Attendance Data (as of Term 3, 2025)
Overall regular attendance: 84%
Māori student regular attendance: 84%
Students with concerning absence (below 70% attendance): 12%
Chronic absence (below 60% attendance): 5%
Definition of Success
90%+ of students attend regularly (90% or more of the time).
Reduction of chronic absence to under 3% by the end of 2026.
Strong whānau engagement and early intervention processes evident across the kura.

Attendance policy

Legal Obligations
Under the Education and Training Act 2020:

Every child aged 6 to 16 must be enrolled and attend school regularly.
The Board of Tawhero School must take all reasonable steps to ensure that every student enrolled attends school when required.
Parents and guardians are legally responsible for ensuring their child’s attendance at school.
Expectations
Parents/Guardians: Notify the school by 9:00 a.m. if their child is absent, explaining the reason and expected duration.
Students: Arrive on time, every day, ready for learning.
Staff: Mark rolls accurately and promptly; follow up on unexplained absences daily; and communicate patterns of concern to leadership.
Related Policies
Student Wellbeing and Behaviour Policy
Health and Safety Policy
Communication and Engagement Policy
Board Governance and Legal Responsibilities Policy
Setting and Reinforcing Expectations
Attendance expectations are communicated at enrolment, through newsletters, class hui, and whānau meetings.
Regular reminders are shared via school assemblies and class discussions about the importance of being present every day.
Recording Attendance
Attendance is recorded twice daily in our SMS (School Management System) by 9:30 a.m. and again after lunch.
Records are securely stored and monitored weekly by the Deputy Principal.
Following Up on Unexplained Absences
Same day: Office staff contact whānau for any unexplained absences by 10:00 a.m.
After two days unexplained: Classroom teacher contacts the whānau directly.
After three days unexplained: Leadership team involvement; Attendance Service notified if necessary.

Monitoring and Early Identification
Weekly reports are generated to identify students with attendance below 85%.
Thresholds:
90–100%: Regular attendance
80–89%: At risk — teacher and whānau follow-up
70–79%: Concern — leadership and whānau plan developed
Below 70%: Severe concern — Attendance Service referral
Patterns of concern (e.g. frequent Mondays/Fridays, lateness) are discussed at pastoral and SENCO meetings.
Escalation and Support Pathways
Tier 1: Teacher and whānau conversation.
Tier 2: Deputy Principal develops an attendance plan with whānau support.
Tier 3: Referral to external agencies such as Attendance Services, RTLB, or interagency support (e.g., Oranga Tamariki liaison).
Supporting Students Returning to School
When a student returns after an extended absence:

A re-entry meeting is held with the student, whānau, and kaiako.
A learning catch-up plan is developed to address gaps.
The student is paired with a class buddy to help reintegrate socially.
Regular follow-ups occur over the first two weeks to monitor progress.
Whānau are kept informed of the student’s reintegration and progress.

Attendance management procedures
Reviewing and Adjusting Procedures
This plan will be reviewed annually by the Board (October each year) or earlier if Ministry guidance or attendance trends change.
Termly review meetings will analyse data and evaluate the impact of interventions.
Monitoring Compliance
Weekly internal audits ensure rolls are marked accurately.
The leadership team monitors follow-up actions on unexplained absences.
Evaluating Effectiveness
Improvement in attendance rates by term and by priority groups (Māori, Pacific, and high-needs learners).
Feedback from staff and whānau on communication and support processes.
Reporting to the Board
The Principal reports termly on:
Overall and group attendance trends
Actions taken to improve attendance
Effectiveness of interventions and next steps
Monitoring and measuring progress
 Reviewing and Adjusting Procedures
This plan will be reviewed annually by the Board (October each year) or earlier if Ministry guidance or attendance trends change.
Termly review meetings will analyse data and evaluate the impact of interventions.
Monitoring Compliance
Weekly internal audits ensure rolls are marked accurately.
The leadership team monitors follow-up actions on unexplained absences.
Evaluating Effectiveness
Improvement in attendance rates by term and by priority groups (Māori, Pacific, and high-needs learners).
Feedback from staff and whānau on communication and support processes.
Reporting to the Board
The Principal reports termly on:
Overall and group attendance trends
Actions taken to improve attendance
Effectiveness of interventions and next steps

 

 

Monitoring and measuring progress
 Reviewing and Adjusting Procedures
This plan will be reviewed annually by the Board (October each year) or earlier if Ministry guidance or attendance trends change.
Termly review meetings will analyse data and evaluate the impact of interventions.
Monitoring Compliance
Weekly internal audits ensure rolls are marked accurately.
The leadership team monitors follow-up actions on unexplained absences.
Evaluating Effectiveness
Improvement in attendance rates by term and by priority groups (Māori, Pacific, and high-needs learners).
Feedback from staff and whānau on communication and support processes.
Reporting to the Board
The Principal reports termly on:
Overall and group attendance trends
Actions taken to improve attendance
Effectiveness of interventions and next steps

Approved by: Tawhero School Board of Trustees

Date: Oct 2025 Principal: K Marshall.     Board Chair: N Apai