Regular school attendance is essential for your child’s success, helping them reach their educational best and opening up greater career and life opportunities. In NSW, school attendance is compulsory for all children from the age of six until they reach the minimum school leaving age. The Education Act 1990 requires that parents ensure their children attend school regularly or are registered with NESA for home-schooling.
The NSW Government provides valuable information to help parents understand their responsibilities. Here are some key points:
Arriving at school and class on time:
Students learn best when they’re present for the full school day. Arriving “just a few minutes late” can cause them to miss essential information for the day ahead.
At times, your child may need to be absent. Valid reasons for absences include:
If your child will be absent, please notify the school early in the day, preferably by phone. If you haven’t contacted us by the time they return, please provide a verbal or written explanation within seven days. If we haven’t received an explanation within two days, the school may reach out to discuss the absence.
We encourage families to plan travel during school holidays. If travel during the term is unavoidable, please consult with the Principal. You may need to complete an Application for Extended Leave. Travel absences will be marked as leave and count toward your child’s annual absences. For extended travel (over 50 school days), distance education may be an option.
For further information on compulsory school attendance, visit the NSW Department of Education website.
