POLICY FOR ATTENDANCE AIMS To create an ethos whereby children want to attend school To achieve a target of over 95%

over 95% attendance To ensure unauthorized absences are kept below 2% To aim for zero unauthorized absence To contact parents of children who do not attend To encourage parents to contact the school immediately if a child is absent To write letters to children who are persistently late and discuss strategies for improving the time children arrive To work with the Education Welfare Department when there are persistent absenteeism

Procedures Children are asked to be in school by 8.40. Children come to school at 8.00am if they have a school breakfast, The bell rings at 8.55 Parents are asked to contact the school by 10.00. If not the Truancy Call system begins the process of ringing parents. The administration officer notes absences each morning when she visits classrooms and teachers inform the administration officer of any afternoon absences This information is then fed into the SIMS and Truancy Call program If the absence is unauthorized the home is contacted Truancy Call contact parents if no message has been received Children who are late are marked late on the register. Parents are telephoned and asked to ensure children arrive on time Letters are sent to persistent offenders The school works closely with the EWO. Generally she attends the school monthly to check on percentages and follow up any children not attending If children persist in being late the EWO contacts the school weekly and follows up cases immediately We aim to achieve a caring ethos within the school so children are keen to come and share in the work of the school.