Attendance Management Plan (AMP)
2026 - Aligned with the Stepped Attendance Response (STAR)
Introduction and Purpose
St Joseph’s School Fairlie is committed to providing a high-quality education for all students. Regular and punctual attendance is fundamental to student success, fostering strong academic progress, social development, and a sense of belonging within our school community.
The purpose of this Attendance Management Plan is to:
● Outline clear expectations for student attendance.
● Establish consistent procedures for monitoring, recording, and managing student attendance.
● Provide a framework for early intervention and support for students whose attendance is a concern.
● Promote effective communication between the school, students, and whānau/caregivers regarding attendance matters.
● Comply with Ministry of Education regulations regarding student enrolment and attendance.
Scope
This plan applies to all students enrolled at St Joseph’s School Fairlie and their whānau/caregivers, as well as all school staff members involved in the monitoring and management of student attendance.
School Target
Our target is to achieve 90% justified attendance for 80% of students across the school year (in line with the Government target by 2030). This target reflects our commitment to maximising student presence in learning environments while acknowledging legitimate reasons for absence.
Definitions: For the purpose of this plan, the following definitions apply:
Attendance
A student is considered present when they are attending school and engaged in their regular timetabled learning programme for the duration of the school day, or for a part-day period that has been formally approved by the school.
A student will also be considered present when attending an approved off-site learning activity that forms part of their educational programme and is supervised and sanctioned by the school.
Students physically present at school will be recorded using the attendance code P (Present at school). Students attending an approved off-site learning activity will be recorded using the attendance code Q (Present at an approved off-site activity), in accordance with Ministry of Education attendance coding guidelines.
Justified Absence
An absence that has been formally approved by the school, typically due to:
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Illness or medical appointment (with supporting evidence if requested, e.g., medical certificate).
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Bereavement.
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Approved family events (e.g., tangi, significant cultural events, with prior arrangement).
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Participation in approved school-related activities (e.g., sports, cultural events, EOTC).
Exceptional circumstances, approved by the Principal or delegated authority, where a student is unable to attend.
Unjustified Absence
Any absence that does not meet the criteria for a justified absence, or for which the school has not received a valid explanation from a parent/caregiver within a reasonable timeframe (24 hours). This includes, but is not limited to:
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Staying home without a valid reason.
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Shopping or non-essential family outings during school hours.
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Overdue explanations for absence.
Truancy
Partial
Absence/Lateness
Persistent or habitual unjustified absence from school.
Arriving at school after the designated start time, or leaving school prior to the designated finish time, without a justified reason or prior arrangement
Roles and Responsibilities
School Leadership (Principal)
● Oversee the implementation and review of the Attendance Management Plan.
● Ensure staff are trained in attendance procedures.
● Provide resources and support for attendance initiatives.
● Analyse attendance data and report to the Board.
● Make decisions on complex or persistent attendance cases.
● Liaise with external agencies (e.g., Oranga Tamariki, truancy services) when necessary.
● Follow up on unexplained absences from classes by contacting parents to seek an explanation.
● Check phone messages, emails, and texts, for any information regarding daily or upcoming absences.
Teachers
● Record student attendance accurately and promptly at the start of each learning day.
● Identify and report students with emerging attendance patterns of concern to the principal.
● Foster a positive and inclusive classroom environment that encourages attendance.
● Communicate proactively with whānau/caregivers regarding student attendance.
Parents/Caregivers
● Ensure their child attends school regularly and on time, every day the school is open for instruction.
● Notify the school promptly (preferably by 9.15am on the day of absence) of any student absence, providing a clear reason and expected duration.
● Provide supporting documentation (e.g., medical certificate) for extended or frequent absences when requested.
● Communicate with the school about any difficulties impacting their child's attendance.
● Work collaboratively with the school to address attendance concerns.
Students
● Attend school every day, punctually and prepared for learning.
● Be aware of the importance of good attendance.
● Communicate any attendance difficulties or concerns to a trusted adult at school or at home.
Intervention Strategies (Tiered Approach)
The school employs a tiered approach to support student attendance, providing targeted interventions based on the level of concern.
Good Attendance
Less than 5 days absence a term
Tier 1: Universal Support
(For All Students)
Worrying Attendance
Up to 10 days absence a term
Tier 2: Targeted Support (For Emerging Concerns)
Concerning Attendance
Up to 15 days absence in a term
Tier 2: Targeted Support (For Emerging Concerns)
Very Concerning Attendance 15 days or more absence in a term
Tier 3: Intensive Support (For Persistent Concerns)
Parents/Guardians/Whānau:
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Ensure students attend every day they are able.
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Reinforce good attendance habits
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Support other parents to reinforce good attendance habits
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Open communication with the school
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Follow school attendance management plan and associated policies and processes
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Return students to regular attendance.
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Contact school to discuss reasons for absence and impact on learning.
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Support students to catch up on missed learning.
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Engage in support offered.
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Return students to regular attendance.
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Participate in meeting with school to analyse reasons for absence and to collaborate on a support plan
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Implement strategies at home.
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Return student to regular attendance
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Engage in support plan
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Participate in regular meetings
Kura:
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Communicate with parents about absences.
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Maintain contact details of parents
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Report regularly to parents on attendance of their child
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Foster a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging school environment.
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Communicate attendance expectations regularly through newsletters and Hero posts.
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Educate students and whānau on the importance of regular attendance for learning and future opportunities.
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Teacher contacts parents to discuss reasons for absence and impact on learning
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Support students to catch up missed learning where required
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Use in-school resources as appropriate to remove barriers e.g., counsellor
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Develop an informal attendance plan with whānau, setting clear expectations and identifying strategies (e.g., morning routines, wake-up calls).
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Monitoring: Increased monitoring of attendance.
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Contact parents to escalate concerns
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Hold meeting to analyse reasons for absences and to collaborate on a support plan
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Develop and implement a support plan tailored to the reasons and circumstances around the child’s absence
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Use in-school resources as appropriate to remove barriers and request support from Attendance services or other agencies as needed.
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Monitoring: Daily monitoring of attendance.
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Contact parents to inform of escalated response.
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Request support from
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Attendance Service or other agencies as needed
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Participate in multi-agency response.
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Maintain implementation and monitoring of support plan
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Undertake school-led prosecution, or requests Ministry-led prosecution, when considered appropriate if support is offered and not taken up.
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Unenroll if a student will not be returning to school.
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Monitoring: Daily monitoring of attendance and the support plan.
Communication
Effective communication is paramount to successful attendance management.
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The school will use multiple channels to communicate attendance expectations and procedures e.g., school website, newsletters.
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Please let us know by texting the school phone, 027 685 8659, by 9.15am each day that your child will be absent from school.
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Parents/caregivers will be contacted promptly regarding absences.
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If required, attendance data will be discussed during parent-teacher conferences.
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Confidentiality will be maintained regarding individual student attendance records, shared only with explicit consent.
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We will be sensitive to our approach to attendance, recognising that our community is isolated and that our parents are restricted in their access to medical care and holiday leave during school holidays and peak tourist periods.
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If you are planning for your child to be away for an extended period (like a holiday or a family event), please email the principal on principal@stjofairlie.school.nz to arrange a phone call or appointment.
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We understand that sometimes there are genuine reasons for absences, but we are happy to support your family with student attendance.
Procedures for Monitoring and Recording Attendance
Attendance Procedures - Te be reviewed formally Term 3 2026
St Joseph’s School has procedures in place to record and monitor attendance and to follow up concerns. We share attendance expectations with students, parents/caregivers and staff.
Daily Attendance Recording
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Classroom teachers will take attendance at the start of each morning and again after the lunch break.
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Attendance will be recorded accurately in the school's Student Management System (SMS) - Hero
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Late arrivals' attendance is officially recorded, and the reason for lateness is noted.
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The parents will notify the School of early departures by the student.
Unexplained Absences
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For any student absent without prior notification, parents/caregivers will usually be contacted by text message and/or phone call, by 9.15am on the day of absence.
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If contact cannot be made, attempts will continue throughout the day.
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If an explanation is not received within 24 hours, the absence will be recorded as unjustified.
Justifying Absences
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Parents/caregivers must provide an explanation for absence by phone call, text, or written note.
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For extended illness of 5 consecutive days or more, a medical certificate may be requested.
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For planned absences (e.g., family holidays, appointments), prior notice and approval from the Principal are required. These may be recorded as unjustified if they are not considered exceptional circumstances by the Principal.
Review and Evaluation
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This Attendance Management Plan will be reviewed annually by the school leadership team in conjunction with the St Joseph’s School Fairlie Board. The review will include:
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Analysis of school-wide and cohort attendance data against the 90% justified attendance target.
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Evaluation of the effectiveness of intervention strategies.
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Feedback from staff, students, and whānau/caregivers.
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Updates to reflect any changes in Ministry of Education guidelines or school policy.
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Review of Student Attendance and Attendance Procedures as per SchoolDocs Review Process found here - https://www.stjofairlie.school.nz/school-policies
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This plan will be published on the school's website and made available to all staff and whānau.
Approval:
Kelly Eason
Published on:
St Joseph's School Fairlie Website
Effective Date:
2/2/2026
Review Date:
Term 3 2026