黑料大事记

Home > Student Support > Attendance

Attendance

黑料大事记 Attendance Management Plan
and Supporting STAR Procedures


Regular school attendance is essential for student success.

The Ministry of Education has developed the  to help schools respond to student absences, to maximise educational opportunities by having more students with “regular attendance” at school. Schools are expected to develop an Attendance Management Plan using the STAR framework, so certain actions must happen when students have been absent from school for a set number of days.

The STAR guidelines are based on days absent in a term. This means most students will start fresh in the process at the start of a term, but ongoing management of those most chronically absent will carry over from the previous term. The STAR framework has four stages:

Attendance Graphic 2026


Strategic Priorities

The 黑料大事记 Board acknowledges school attendance is important for ākonga to achieve their educational potential and build their ability to live the 黑料大事记 Korowai of Values.

Why attendance is important

Regular attendance supports not only academic progress, but also belonging, friendships, wellbeing and confidence. Missing school regularly can make it harder for ākonga to reconnect socially and emotionally, even when they return. Nationally, the government target is for 80% of students to be regularly attending school by 2030. 

Current State

For 2025, 黑料大事记 had 56% regular attendance over the whole year:

Term 1: 62.4%  |  Term 2: 54.8%  |  Term 3: 56.3%  |  Term 4: 49.9%

Our 2026 target is to raise our regular attendance by 5% each term.

Term 1: 67.0%  |  Term 2: 62.0%  |  Term 3: 63.0%  |  Term 4: 57.0%

These targets will be reviewed and adjusted for 2027.

School Board Responsibilities

The board is responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure that 黑料大事记 ākonga attend the school when it is open for instruction.

The board will comply with the provisions in the legislation in relation to ākonga attendance by:

  • Having a commitment to support ākonga return to regular attendance

  • Having processes and procedures in place to support a Stepped Attendance Response to ākonga absence that uses data-based thresholds to identify ākonga

  • Recording all absences, and responding accordingly

  • Ensuring there is an effective method in place for identifying and monitoring ākonga absence, including identifying patterns and barriers to ākonga attendance

  • Publishing this attendance management plan on the school’s website

Principal's Responsibilities

The Principal/Principal’s delegate is responsible for:

  • Developing and implementing a stepped attendance response aligned with the thresholds to support ākonga attendance

  • ensure that ākonga absence is investigated, responded too and actions taken recorded aligned with the thresholds

  • Ensuring daily reporting of attendance is sent to the MOE

  • Ensure all students, whanau, and staff understand the processes and procedures that support student attendance.

  • Report to the board on any trends, barriers to attendance, and interventions being used to support student attendance.

Monitoring

  • The board will receive termly attendance reporting- including information provided by the Every Day Matters report. Included in this report will be any emerging trends, barriers to attendance, and areas of concern for the board's consideration.

  • Daily reporting of attendance will be sent to the MOE via the school’s student management system.

Legislative Compliance/ Legislation





NOTIFICATION OF ABSENCE

For all absences parents and caregivers must inform the school via one of the methods below:

1. Use the Schoolbridge App

2. Telephone the absence line on 6270600, ext. 729

3. Or email absence@lynfield.school.nz

ILLNESS: A medical certificate is expected for any absence of five (5) days or more.

LATENESS: 黑料大事记 expects enrolled students to be punctual

  • Dropping students off after 8.55 am means the student is late. 
  • Students who are late must sign in at the Dean's Reception before going to class.

An early notification system is in place. When a student is found to be absent a text message is sent to both caregivers' cellphones as entered on the enrolment form. It is important that parents and caregivers update their contact details with the Deans' Secretary (extension 731) should any contact details change.

Parents and caregivers are expected to notify the College of all absence and the reason for an absence and to cooperate with the college to maximise attendance and minimise truancy.

If you have queries concerning absences please contact your child’s Dean.


ABSENCE FROM ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES

When a student misses an assessment test or deadline due to illness or circumstances beyond their control they may apply for the achievement level to be recognized with a grade. A written request, which includes a detailed explanation of the circumstances and a doctor’s certificate in the case of illness, must be handed to the Head of Department with five days of the missed assessment activity.

ADDRESS AND CONTACT DETAILS

It is important that your address and contact details are up to date on our school system. Please telephone or email any updated details to our Deans’ Reception, Sharon Kohler on extension 731, or email skohler@lynfield.school.nz

JUSTIFIED OR EXPLAINABLE ABSENCES


While we appreciate there are genuine reasons why an absence is justified, it still means that the student is not in class. Some acceptable reasons for absence, as specified by the Ministry of Education, include genuine illness, medical or dental appointments, bereavement and cultural or sporting representation.

Prior permission may be granted by the Principal for any special activity requiring an absence from school. Ministry of Education definitions for justified or explainable absences are listed below. The College prefers that family trips overseas are taken during the holiday breaks. Requests for absence for these should be made in writing directly to the Principal well in advance informing him of your intentions.
 
  • Cultural or sporting representations at regional or higher levelIllness (including hospitalisation)
  • Medical/dental appointments
  • Bereavement
  • Exceptional Family circumstances which may include travel for special occasions or may be sensitive and involve other agencies (application should be made to the Principal)
  • Vehicle breakdown / train / bus delay / car accident / natural disaster
  • Citizenship Ceremony
  • Ballet / music / speech exam
  • Drivers Licence
  • Bullying (follow up)
  • Accident before school which may include injury to an animal.
 

EXPLAINED BUT NOT JUSTIFIED or NO EXPLANATION (defined as Truant)

  • Being an interpreter for family
  • Religious festival
  • Looking after ill family members
  • Babysitting
  • Part-time job commitments
  • Parents work schedule
  • Holiday
  • Birthday
  • Unresolvable wet clothing
  • Non-school cultural/sporting event
  • Hair appointment
  • Visa / passport / consulate business
  • Taking exams overseas
  • Moving house
  • Going to the airport