School Attendance
Direction and guidance on the requirements for attendance in NSW public schools.
Audience
All NSW public school staff, excluding preschools.
| Version | Date | Description of changes | Approved by |
| V08.0.0 | 15/03/2024 | Under the 2023 Policy and procedure review program, converted into new policy template, minor updates to language to reduce duplication and moved roles and into the relevant procedures. | Executive Director, Inclusion and Wellbeing |
Document history
2023 Oct 18 minor wording changes to section 4.2.3 of the policy statement.
2022 Aug 04 - updated links in the policy statement and to bring it in line with policy template. Updated implementation document, Student Attendance in Government Schools Procedures, to include a link to the digital forms for the exemption travel form and certificate.
2020 Aug 11 - updated contact details and minor text changes.
2010 Jan 27 - The policy was updated to reflect:
- new Legislation including the Education Amendment (School Attendance) Act 2009 commenced on 1 January 2010 and
- the introduction of the new school leaving age which came into effect in January 2010.
Further updates in this version:
- implemented the ACARA National Standards for Student Attendance Data Reporting
- provided guidance on attendance and students with health care needs
- provided guidance on what constitutes unsatisfactory attendance.
Superseded documents
School Attendance Policy and Procedures (1991)
School Attendance Policy (2005)
- Policy statement
- Section 22 of the Education Act 1990 states that it is the duty of the parent or carer of a child of compulsory school-age to cause the child to either:
- be enrolled at, and to attend, a government school or a registered non-government school
- be registered for home schooling with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and to receive instruction in accordance with the conditions to which the registration is subject.
- All students who are enrolled at school, regardless of their age, are expected to attend that school whenever instruction is provided.
- Section 24 of the Act requires principals to maintain an attendance register (roll) in a form approved by the Minister. Attendance registers must be available for inspection during school hours by an Inspector or by an authorised person.
- Parents or carers are required to explain the absences of their children from school promptly. An explanation for absence must be provided to the school within 7 calendar days of the first day of any period of absence.
- Schools must provide clear information in a form or language understood by students and parents or carers regarding attendance requirements and the consequences of unsatisfactory attendance.
- Principals must ensure the school has effective measures in place to monitor and follow up student absences.
- When a school becomes concerned about a student's attendance, staff must address the student's learning and support needs with their parents or carers.
- All staff must respond to and report any matter relating to school attendance where safety, welfare or wellbeing concerns arise for a student. Refer to Child protection: responding to and reporting students at risk of harm policy and Mandatory Reporter Guide.
- Section 22 of the Education Act 1990 states that it is the duty of the parent or carer of a child of compulsory school-age to cause the child to either:
- Context
- Regular attendance at school is essential to assist students to maximise their potential. Schools, in partnership with parents and carers, are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students.
- Encouraging regular attendance is a core school responsibility.
- This policy should be read in the context of the Enrolment of students in NSW Government schools policy and the General enrolment procedures (PDF 298 KB).
- The department may grant an exemption from attendance and/or enrolment in some circumstances, in line with the Exemption from school procedures.
- Policy contact
- Director, Behaviour and Student Participation
attendance@det.nsw.edu.au
02 7814 2937
- Director, Behaviour and Student Participation
- Monitoring the policy
- The Director, Behaviour and Student Participation, monitors the implementation of this policy, regularly reviews its contents to ensure relevance and accuracy, and updates it as needed.