Reporting Absences
As a parent/caregiver, you are required by the School Education Act 1999 to ensure your child attends school every day that the school is open for instruction (Section 23).
To get the most out of school and learning, children need to attend, and attend regularly. Regular attendance allows children to build upon their learning and absorb it. Children who miss school in the early years of high school will have ‘learning gaps’ which impact on their later life.
Attending school regularly helps students develop confidence, social skills, resilience and teamwork.
We prefer to have absentees in writing. Therefore if a student is going to be away we encourage you to log onto our user friendly portal Compass and submit absentees. Compass has an app you can download to your phone or you can use a PC. Please contact Student Services if you require your Compass log on. You can also text our ‘MessageOutreach’ service on 0400 212 523 or email our team in Student Services Busselton.SHS.StudentServices@education.wa.edu.au. Please note that we require the students full name and reason for their absence so we can record it accurately.
FAQ's
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Does my child have to attend school?
YES if your child is of compulsory school age which, in WA, means from Preprimary to Year 12. In specific circumstances exemptions from school to undertake employment or training are approved.
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Must I send my child to school every day?
YES , unless your child is unwell, has an infectious disease or the Principal is provided with a genuine and acceptable reason.
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What should I do if my child refuses to go to school?
Contact your school immediately and seek support. Your child’s school has qualified and skilled people to support you in getting your child to school.
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A day or two off school now and again isn’t a concern, is it?
YES, it is. Any time off school makes it harder for your child to build on their learning. Every day is important to be at school so that learning isn’t interrupted & friendships are sustained.
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What should I do if my child has been away from school?
Provide a genuine reason to the school explaining the absence.
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Regular days off school in the early years is OK & isn’t a concern, is it?
YES it is. Children develop attendance patterns early & these follow into secondary school. Research indicates that positive attendance patterns need to start early.
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What is risked by not attending school from primary school to Year 10?
Absent average 1 day per week = 80% attendance rate = 2 years of school missed.
Absent average 1.5 days per week = 70% attendance rate = 3 years of school missed.
Absent average 2 days per week = 60% attendance are = 4 years of school missed.
There is NO ‘safe’ threshold for absence.
If a student is absent, a responsible person, usually the parent, must notify the school of the reason for the student’s absence as soon as practical.
