Weather

School Attendance

Every day counts

We all want our students to receive a great education, and the building blocks for this start with regular attendance. Missing school can have a significant impact on a child’s learning and future opportunities. For example, a student who misses one day every two weeks will miss four full weeks by the end of the year. By Year 10, this adds up to more than a full year of schooling.

There is no safe number of days to miss—every day counts. Each day a student is absent can put them behind in their learning and affect their overall educational outcomes. Regular attendance is essential for success.

If your child must miss school, there are ways we can work together to ensure they stay on track:

  • Speak with your classroom teacher to find out what work your child needs to complete.

  • Develop an absence learning plan with your teacher and ensure your child completes the required work.

Remember, every day counts. If your child must be absent, please notify the classroom teacher as early as possible. Parents can be fined if students miss school without a valid reason.

If you are experiencing difficulties with attendance, please reach out to your classroom teacher so we can work together to support your child in attending school every day.

For more information on school attendance, please click the link below.

https://www.vic.gov.au/attendance-and-missing-school

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Absences and Same-Day Notifications

At Thomastown Meadows Primary School (TMPS), student safety and wellbeing are our priority. It is important that we know when your child is absent and that parents and carers let us know the reason for any absence.

Keep Your Contact Details Up to Date

We may need to contact you if your child is absent and we have not received an explanation. Please ensure the school has your current details, including:

  • Parent/carer names

  • Home address

  • Phone numbers

  • Email address

  • Emergency contacts

If your details change, please contact the school office on 9466 1810 so we can update our records.

How to Notify the School of an Absence

If your child will be absent or arriving late, please notify the school as early as possible using one of the following methods:

For planned absences, such as family holidays, please notify the school in advance through Compass or by contacting the school office. Additional documentation may be required for extended absences.

Same-Day Notifications for Unexplained Absences

If your child is marked absent and we have not received an explanation, the school will send an SMS/text message on the same day.

If you receive a message about your child's unexplained absence, please contact the school as soon as possible to explain the absence and confirm your child's whereabouts.

If we are unable to reach you, we will attempt to contact the emergency contacts listed in your child's school records.

Why Is It Important to Report Absences?

Parents and carers are responsible for providing an explanation for every student absence. Notifying the school promptly helps us to:

  • Keep students safe by following up unexplained absences.

  • Maintain accurate attendance records.

  • Meet attendance requirements for Victorian government schools.

If an absence has not been explained, it will be recorded as unexplained until an acceptable explanation is provided.

Thank you for helping us keep our students safe and supporting regular school attendance.

Student Engagement Policy