1. REGIONAL ATTENDANCE INITIATIVE North Metropolitan Education Region MANAGING IMPROVEMENT IN ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL

2. Regional Attendance Initiative Why Attend Regularly? Attendance at school is a prerequisite for student achievement. Students who are regularly absent are at the greatest risk of; DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL EARLY BECOMING LONG TERM UNEMPLOYED BEING CAUGHT IN THE POVERTY CYCLE BECOMING WELFARE DEPENDENT BEING INVOLVED IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM BEING SOCIALLY ISOLATED BEING HARMED DURING TIMES OF ABSENCE BEING ILLITERATE FEELING INSECURE ABOUT SCHOOL

3. Regional Attendance Initiative SOME OF THE FRUSTRATIONS EXPERIENCED BY TEACHERS BECAUSE OF POOR ATTENDANCE: Spending time trying to catch students up on a unit of work because they have missed too much school, and to the detriment of others who have attended. Trying to scaffold and build upon a poor attendees prior knowledge when they have gaps in their learning caused by prolonged absence. Having data effected by the underperforming results of poor attendance. Behavioural and social issues that spill over into classrooms as a result of poor attendance. (Students not in sync with class routines and friendship groups)

4. Regional Attendance Initiative You can’t control all aspects of a child’s attendance, but here are some things that you can impact on : 1.Promoting good attendance to parents through all communication. 2.Putting in place positive rewards at a class level to encourage school. 3.Providing stimulating lessons that students want to come to school for. 4.Using CMS strategies that promote positive relationships with students. 5.Accurately and promptly recording attendance data so that admin can effectively monitor attendance plans with individual students. 6.Support ‘Good Standing’ activities that reward good attendance. 7.Positive parental contact of poor attendees about attendance. 8.Monitoring and supporting attendance plans.

5. Regional Attendance Initiative At the ‘start of year’ communication meetings, inform parents of attendance expectations and processes within the school. Show parents the impact of missing school ie 70% attendance from K-10 is equal to missing 3 years of school. Liaise with administration about including attendance information in your ‘parent package’ Refer to attendance throughout the year with communication letters / parent connect etc.

6. Regional Attendance Initiative Ensure processes for recording and updating attendance data are known to you and are maintained promptly and accurately. (including attendance codes) Document every conversation in SIS. Right clicking on the absence you are entering opens a yellow dialogue box. (Enter the following information – code recorded, explanation of absence and who you spoke to/received letter from etc.) Keep an up to date hard copy of the roll for evacuation purposes in an attendance file. Send home official attendance explanation letters from SIS every two weeks. Reward their return by having an in-class raffle for those who didn’t have an absence and those who explained an absence. The tickets should carry equal rating. (The how to print them information is in the attendance kit)

7. Regional Attendance Initiative Know your codes. CODEDESCRIPTION*TYPEStatusNOTES / Present Resolved The student is recorded as being present at school. This is the default when daily records are created. E Educational ActivityPresentResolved The student is recorded as NOT absent from school. The student is involved in an approved educational program such as an excursion and no follow up is required. W WithdrawnPresentResolved The student is recorded as NOT absent from school. The student is withdrawn from classroom activities but is still present at school. M Medical or Sick BayPresentResolved The student is in the medical or sick bay but is still present at school. The student is recorded as NOT absent from school. L Late Resolved The student is late but the degree of lateness is insufficient to have been recorded as a period or session absence. If the student is so late as to have missed more than 25% of a period or session then they should be recorded as absent for that period or session. R Reasonable Cause Authorised Absence Resolved The student is recorded as absent from school. An acceptable reason for the student’s absence has been provided. Z Suspended Authorised Absence ResolvedThe student is recorded as absent from school. This is an authorised absence. C Cultural Absence Authorised Absence Resolved The student is recorded as absent from school. The Principal has authorised this absence because of cultural or religious significance to the family. N Notified as Sick Authorised Absence Resolved The student is recorded as absent from school. The Principal has authorised this absence due to confirmation of the student’s ill health by the parent. V Vacation Authorised Absence Resolved The student is recorded as absent from school. The Principal has authorised this absence through negotiations with the parent. X Unacceptable Reason Unauthorised Absence Resolved The student is recorded as absent from school. A reason has been given for the student’s absence from school but has been deemed unacceptable and further follow up will be required. U Absence – cause not yet established Unauthorised Absence Unresolved The student is recorded as absent from school. Sometimes called an Unexplained absence. No reason has yet been established for this absence.

8. Regional Attendance Initiative Aboriginal students and DCP students need to have a documented personalised learning plan with an attendance component. Ask administration for a template In cases of continued poor attendance, notify Administration for a case conference. It is critical that a school psych is either present or involved in the planning of an individualised attendance plan. Weekly attendance conversations with staff at collaborative meetings.

9. Regional Attendance Initiative When a student is absent for 3 days unexplained, make a non-confrontational phone call home from a nice pastoral care angle. It gives you bonus points with parents for showing interest in their child, and sends the message you care. Dialling 1831 first allows you to make a call but withholds your number. Entry level questions / statements to ask: “Hello, how are you today?” “Fred has been going well in school, he did some excellent work last week.” Mid level questions to ask: I just wanted to call to touch base. Fred has been away the last few days. Is everything ok.. (If you are told he has been sick etc show empathy) Sorry to hear he hasn’t been feeling well, did the doctor say when he thought he would be back. (When the answer is given update SIS, record the absence based on the response given) Can the school do anything to support you? (Take note of any specific concerns around food, uniforms, DCP related issues and inform admin) Thanks for chatting it was good to catch up. We look forward to seeing Fred on Thursday. (If Fred doesn’t come to school on Thursday notify admin) High level questions to ask: (DON’T - refer matter to admin)

10. Regional Attendance Initiative Put strategies in place in the classroom to raise the profile of attendance Raffle tickets for returned explained absence letters to win a prize. Provide an opportunity to reward the first ten arrivals in class in the morning ie raffle ticket, first 5 kids get to write their spelling words on laminated card etc. This encourages punctuality Create sticker charts for reluctant attendees with a prize for coming. Innovative and stimulating class programs. Special jobs for poor attendees, if you don’t come the fish will die! Positive calls home about a poor attendee so that you can foster a good relationship with the family. Liaise with administration about attendance, let them know of issues that are impacting on your students’ attendance. Be both positive and sensitive toward attendance, often being late is not the students’ fault. If a student knows the teacher will give them a hard time if they are late, they may elect to stay home rather than be ‘grilled’ at school.

11. Regional Attendance Initiative Attendance is a state-wide issue – Nearly 47000 students in 2011 were in the attendance category alone.

12. Regional Attendance Initiative Inform the community of this data in parent meetings

13. Regional Attendance Initiative North Metropolitan Intervention Flowchart - Know the process

14. Regional Attendance Initiative Nice letter raising the issue but quoting the act and offering support

15. Regional Attendance Initiative Slightly more serious asking for improvement, or the need to develop an attendance plan.

16. Regional Attendance Initiative Formal meeting ‘threat’ and consultation with NMERO.

17. Regional Attendance Initiative Notification of Formal Meeting where a Voluntary Parenting Agreement is offered

18. Regional Attendance Initiative Letter from RED advising referral to attendance panel

19. Regional Attendance Initiative Letter from the Panel Chairperson advising parents of panel time and place. If the panel has no further recommendations - prosecution follows

20. Regional Attendance Initiative Other ideas to ‘pad’ out attendance letters - it helps administration to know specific information that they can personalise attendance letters with.

21. Regional Attendance Initiative Non-Compulsory Letter It is vital that good attendance habits are formed in Kindy. Data trends suggest that poor habits in Kindy follow students through their schooling career.

22. Regional Attendance Initiative In combination with your leadership team, staple these letters to the reports of all students under 90%. It sends a message to parents who aren’t happy with their child’s results that attendance has had an impact.

23. Regional Attendance Initiative Positive Letter Home. As you have the closest working relationship with your parents, this is a great letter to send home acknowledging the excellent attendance of certain students. Parents talk, it sends a message to your class community that good attendance is highly valued by you and the school.

24. Regional Attendance Initiative Positive Incentives, send home class certificates

25. Regional Attendance Initiative Ask your admin team about a systemic view of the data. Get involved in setting targets for students.

26. Regional Attendance Initiative Templates and Exemplars of Attendance Plans, Aboriginal Education Plans etc.

27. Regional Attendance Initiative Use your NAPLAN data to highlight the impact on attendance. Click hide initials, and activate the attendance overlay. This allows you to show parents the impact poor attendance has.

28. Regional Attendance Initiative VISUAL GRAPHS IN SIS TO USE IN CASE CONFERENCES THAT HELP SOME PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE ATTENDANCE ISSUE WHEN SEEING COMPARISONS TO OTHERS IN THE CLASS YOUR CHILD

29. Regional Attendance Initiative Attendance brochures that explain school processes, law requirements, etc…given out on enrolment and attached to attendance letters mailed home

30. INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD OVERLAYS INSTEAD OF HAVING YOUR CLASS CALL ‘PRESENT’ HAVE THEM CALL OUT A VERB THE FIRST 10 STUDENTS ARRIVING GET TO …………… Encourages being on time

31. Regional Attendance Initiative TEACHERS CAN HAVE A LARGE SAY IN STUDENT ATTENDANCE, THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS’ LEARNING. TEACHER ‘BUY IN’ TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE WITH THE SAME COMMITMENT GIVEN TO TEACHING MEANS THAT YOU ARE HELPING TO MAXIMISE ALL OF YOUR STUDENTS’ CHANCES OF SUCCESS.