As parents, all we want is the best for our children – to see them happy, healthy and thriving. One of the most powerful ways to support their learning and wellbeing is with regular school attendance. In fact, NSW studies show that regular attendance to school is essential for student success, not only academically but also emotionally and socially. To put it simply, your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier, and your child will build and maintain friendships with other children.
Everyday means so much more, so what is the ‘so much more?’
Think of school like a puzzle, each day is a piece of the puzzle that leads to the big picture of transitioning into life after school. These puzzle pieces are sometimes small but they all add up to your child’s understanding of the world, no matter at what pace they’re learning.
On the days your child is absent, they are missing out on parts of the puzzle and the more days they’re away the harder it is to catch up.
To put it in perspective, missing school days add up, fast. Students who miss one day every two weeks can lose up to four full weeks of learning in a single year. Studies show that by missing this amount of time at school can reduce a student’s chances of finishing school by more than 50% and students who attend 95% or more are more likely to meet NAPLAN benchmarks and complete year 12.
That’s how powerful each day can be.
But it’s not just about academics..
Attendance does more than boost academic results, it helps young people feel like they belong. Belonging is the foundation of engagement and when students feel like they’re a part of a school community, they’re more likely to:
- Enjoy coming to school
- Have connections and relationships with their teachers and peers
- Feel confident to take part in class discussions and group work
- Develop resilience and confidence
- Have a deeper understand where they can take their career and life options According to the Centre of Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE), even small improvements in a student’s sense of belonging can lead to more days at school and better outcomes overall.
Real talk: What happens When Attendance Drops?
Chronic absenteeism, which is considered 10% or more of school days missed, can start a domino effect:
- Learning gaps get wider
- Friendships become harder to maintain
- Confidence drops
- Students become less motivated, more anxious and more likely to disengage from school
- Loss of punctuality and routine skills
How to help your child show up and stay connected?
No student skips school ‘just because’. We understand that there is always a reason such an illness, anxiety, family situations, stress and/or feeling disconnected from learning. As parents, we can quickly blame ourselves for our child making a habit out of not attending school, however it is part of them figuring out how to deal with challenges in life.
Schools, in partnership with parents and carers, are responsible for promoting the wellbeing of students. This means, your school will have resources to support you through the situation to get your child back on track. There is no reason to feel like you have to do it alone.
Our tips:
- Recognise the signs early and reach out to your child’s teacher or year co-ordinator
- Have open discussions with them about why they don’t want to go to school. Stay positive and provide understanding to their feelings
- Take small steps to get them back on track such as, organise play dates or carpooling after school so they can be around friends
- Find out our policies around school attendance Click here to find out more
- Information for parents provides further information about NSW compulsory school attendance
Encouraging regular school attendance doesn’t mean being perfect, it means doing your best for your kids, showing up and reaching out when you need to.
Everyday really does mean so much more and when students attend regularly, they don’t just do better in school they feel better, connect more deeply with their peers and are more likely to reach their full potential.
So, let’s work together to give our kids every chance to succeed one school day at a time.
