Wentworthville Public School

Quality Teaching to Maximise Student Learning

Telephone02 9631 8529

Emailwentwthvil-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Attendance and absences

Schooling is an important part of a child's life and is compulsory for all children from 6 years to 17 years of age.  There are responsibilities for students attending school that apply to parents, teachers and Principals.

As a parent, you are responsible for: enrolling your children at school; ensuring that they attend school regularly; explaining their absences from school promptly to the school; and taking measures to resolve any attendance issues.

Teaching staff are responsible for supporting the regular attendance of students by: providing a caring teaching and learning environment which fosters students' sense of belonging to the school community; recognising and rewarding excellent and improved attendance; and implementing programs and practices to address attendance issues when they arise.

As the principal, I am responsible for ensuring that: students are enrolled in line with the requirements set out in The Enrolment of Students in Government Schools: A Summary and Consolidation of Policy (1997); attendance records are maintained in an approved format and are accurate; the school discipline policy addresses attendance issues and  provides strategies for encouraging good attendance; parents and students are regularly informed of attendance requirements; all cases of unsatisfactory attendance and part or full day absences of a  student are investigated promptly; and undertaking all reasonable measures to contact parents promptly and within two days of an unexplained absence occurring.

Principals may grant: sick leave to students whose absences are satisfactorily explained as being due to illness; leave to students totalling not more than 15 days per school year in addition to sick leave. Principals may decline to accept as satisfactory an explanation for an absence. The parent should be advised that the explanation has not been accepted and a reason for the decision provided.

Principals may request medical certificates or other documentation when absences explained as being due to sickness are frequent or prolonged.

Attendance policy (pdf 170 KB)

Frequently Asked Questions about Attendance

Why is regular attendance at 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 be asked to ensure your child continues their learning while they are absent from school.

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 (HSLO) or Aboriginal student liaison officer, regional officers who support school attendance initiatives. These officers can work with you and the school to discuss the issues and provide support.

Related content