Ministry of Education Guidelines

Is Your Child Well Enough to go to School?

Going to school every day is important for all school aged tamariki (children). It helps build their confidence and social skills, and to achieve their education and life ambitions. This information helps you decide when it is okay to send your child to school, when you should keep your child at home and when you should contact a health professional for advice.

Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school – Ministry of Education

 

Ministry of Education Attendance Goals 

As part of the MoE's attendance plan, attendance is closely monitored and categorised into four subgroups:

Regular Attendance:

Students with over 90% attendance 

Missing fewer than five days of school in a standard 10-week term

Irregular Absence: 

Students with more than 80% and up to 90% attendance

Students missing 5 – 9.5 days of a standard term

Moderate Absence: 

Students with more than 70% and up to 80% attendance

Students missing 10 – 14.5 days of school in a term

Chronic Absence:

Students 70% attendance or less

Attendance Matters 

School leadership, school boards, parents and the Ministry of Education all play key roles in supporting students to attend school – and addressing absence when it occurs. Lifting school attendance is our shared responsibility.

The STAR has been developed in line with the good practice identified in Education Review Office (ERO) evaluations and school indicators.

We know that school leadership, board stewardship, quality teaching, and educationally powerful connections will influence positive school attendance.

This year we will work closely with schools to develop and implement attendance management plans.

Plans will use the STAR and be tailored to meet the needs of each school community. Regulations relating to these plans will be progressed this year to come into effect for the start of Term 1 2026.

 

Students missing 15 or more days of school in a term

Our classroom teachers, office staff, LSC, and Senior Leadership Team regularly monitor attendance patterns and will reach out to whānau to offer support in maintaining consistent attendance. If these patterns persist, our LSC and Senior Leadership Team, will then work alongside whānau to explore further support options.