Last Updated: 2021-08-03
Students must come to school every day the school is open. This is known as regular attendance.
Students are more likely to want to come to school and achieve if they feel:
- included
- valued
- respected
- supported.
Students who miss school often
The attendance policy defines the following groups of students as at risk because of how often they miss school.
- Habitual non-attendance: a student misses 5 to 9 school days in a term. This is for any reason.
- Chronic non-attendance: a student misses 10 or more days in a term. This is for any reason.
For students in these groups, we assess the level of risk to their learning and wellbeing. When a student is at risk we will talk with the family about the issues.
Our school's vision
All students have a right to an education. Students who have patterns of high attendance are able to meet their full potential in educational and social development. Our College is a centre of excellence in learning and language with a culture of high expectations and achievement. We have a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where students can learn and grow fostering inter-cultural understandings and global citizenship. Each student is engaged in their learning. Parents and carers are important partners in this process. We keep a check on any students who might fall behind. We work with teachers, parents, carers and students to find out why someone is missing school. We provide supports that are specific to each student’s needs.
How we follow up if a student misses school
Homegroup/Classroom Teacher ring home on the 3rd day (or patterns of concern), record on Sentral in Wellbeing/Parent contact. SSO sends out absenteeism report every Thursday to Year Level Manager and staff. Homegroup/Classroom teachers follow up unexplained or patterns of concern and adjust attendance roll accordingly. On Friday, Year level Manager/Director of Primary/Classroom Teacher to discuss follow up if no contact was able to be made with parents/carers and provide a list to assigned SSO in front office to send letter home and place copy in student files. If the unexplained or pattern of unexplained attendance continues, information needs to be forwarded to the Wellbeing Leader to follow up. Students with 10 or more days will be referred to Social Worker Duty Line. Medical certificates can be requested. Attendance follow up will be recorded on Sentral. Case Management through Wellbeing Leaders and parent meetings and home visits will be activated where required. Executive Team involved with the Department for Education Support Services through external Student Review Team.
- If a student misses school, we record their absence. We also record the reason given by the parent or carer.
- If we receive no reason, we follow up with the parent or carer. This is usually by phone or text (SMS).
- If the absences continue or there are concerns raised by the absence, we keep following up. This might be by phone, email, meeting or a letter.
- We support the family to look at any issues that stop the student from going to school.
- If needed, we connect the family to other services. For example student support services.
Our data
At Plympton International College our student attendance records help us to plan how we improve school attendance.
We routinely analyse data. We look at patterns. For example the attendance of different year levels. We also look at individual student attendance.
Our attendance rate has increased in every year since 2016. This might be due to a more consistent and monitored approach to attendance. Our College vision and culture of high expectations and achievement has driven this change with the College community supporting all expectations.
Our approach to improving attendance
At Plympton International College our attendance strategies are guided by the South Australian Department for Education's attendance policy.
We will plan, implement and review the following attendance improvement actions. We will do this with our governing council, staff, students, families and local community.
Promote
We will promote the importance of education from the earliest years of life and throughout the schooling years as a school community priority of the highest value.
Our actions
Assess
We will assess patterns of non-attendance and circumstances. We will use this to inform the development of appropriate targeted, intensive and coordinated interventions.
Our actions
Engage
We will actively engage and include all children, young people and their families in education and interventions which support attendance.
Our actions
Support
We will provide support to address the barriers to attendance, learning and wellbeing. We will make sure there is inclusive support for children and young people so they can be physically present and engaged in education.
Our actions
Monitor
We will monitor attendance to make sure that risks are identified, supports are in place, and progress is monitored.
Our actions
Evaluate
We will evaluate the need for further or ongoing interventions, referrals for external support and mandatory notifications.
