Every Day Counts

Every Day Counts is a statewide initiative addressing the issue of student attendance at school. The initiative is designed to change parent, community and student attitudes to school attendance. It requires the support of both parents and the community if student attendance is to be successfully addressed.

Every Day Counts promotes four key messages:

all children should be enrolled at school and attend on every school day
schools should monitor, communicate and implement strategies to improve regular school attendance
truanting can place a student in unsafe situations and impact on their future employability and life choices
attendance at school is the responsibility of everyone in the community.

Research shows that higher rates of attendance at school are related to higher achievement.

It is widely recognised that attendance problems are best managed by early identification and intervention.

The Guidelines to address chronic absenteeism, school refusal and truancy 508k recommend a 5 step model for improving school attendance.

Schools can use the Attendance Improvement Plan 250k template, Attendance Policy 35k template, Attendance Planning Tool 40k template, Student Attendance Profile 29k template and sample letter 24k from a school principal to local businesses/community agencies/service organisations to plan and document their school's approach to improving school attendance.

There is no quick and simple solution, nor a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to improving school attendance. However, partnerships between schools, parents and the local community have been proven to assist in reducing absenteeism and making every day count at school.

The brochure Every Day Counts will help parents and caregivers to understand their responsibilities in relation to school attendance. There is a specific version for use by schools in Indigenous communities. Schools may include this brochure in their enrolment packages or to send to parents and caregivers when there is a pattern of student absenteeism.

Parents and caregivers may also find the downloadable fact sheet on regular school attendance useful. It contains answers to common questions that parents and carers may have as well as highlighting the importance of attending school and providing strategies for parents to encourage their child to go to school.

Posters and Postcards with the key message that all children should go to school all day, every day can also be downloaded.

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This page was last reviewed on 21 Jul 2010