Matipo School Attendance Management Plan

1. Purpose

To ensure that all tamariki are supported to attend school regularly (90%+ attendance), in line with Ministry of Education guidelines and Matipo Road School’s commitment to student success and wellbeing.

2. Key Principles

• Every Day Matters: Regular attendance is essential for learning, social development, and long-term success.
• Early Intervention: Absence trends are identified and responded to quickly.
• Whānau Partnership: We work alongside parents and caregivers to support positive attendance habits.
• STAR-Aligned: Our approach follows the Ministry’s Stepped Attendance Response (STAR).

3. Attendance Expectations

• Parents must ensure tamariki attend school every day unless sick or there is a justified absence (e.g., tangihanga).
• Absences must be reported by 9:00am via phone, Skool Loop, or email.
• All absences will be coded in line with MOE guidelines.

4. Roles and Responsibilities

4.1 Parents/Caregivers

• Ensure their child attends daily.
• Inform the school promptly of any absences.
• Engage in support plans and follow-ups if required.
• Support learning at home when absences are unavoidable.

4.2 Classroom Teachers

• Take attendance in HERO by 9:15am daily.
• Record reasons for absences if known.
• Report any concerning patterns to the Team Leader and SLT.

4.3 Office Staff

• Follow up on unexplained absences via text or phone by 10:00am daily.
• Maintain accurate attendance records.
• Alert SLT to repeated unexplained absences or patterns.

4.4 Deputy Principals / SLT

• Monitor weekly attendance data and trends.
• Initiate contact with whānau for attendance concerns.
• Lead attendance meetings and support plans as required.
• Refer to the Attendance Service when interventions fail.

4.5 Principal

• Report termly attendance data to the Board.
• Ensure the attendance policy and procedures are on the website.
• Lead any serious attendance escalations, including potential prosecution processes.

5. Attendance Monitoring Procedure (STAR-Aligned)

Level	Attendance Threshold	School Response	Whānau Role
Green	<5 days absent/term	Promote good attendance; share weekly updates with students and staff	Encourage regular attendance
Yellow	Up to 10 days absent/term	Formal notification sent; teacher/DP contacts home to discuss	Contact school; support catch-up learning
Amber	Up to 15 days absent/term	SLT-led meeting with whānau; support plan created; MOE/agency referrals considered	Attend meeting; engage in support plan
Red	15+ days absent/term	Escalated plan involving multi-agency response; potential referral to Attendance Service or prosecution	Attend meetings; re-engage with support or risk further consequences

 

6. Additional Measures

• Weekly tracking of attendance by SLT.
• Termly attendance awards and incentives.
• Collaborative plans for chronic conditions or complex family needs.
• Staff PD on the importance of attendance and whānau engagement.

7. Reporting

• HERO platform used for attendance tracking.
• Monthly reports shared with Team Leaders.
• Termly Board report includes attendance patterns and interventions.

Appendices

Appendix A – STAR Framework Summary

Stepped Attendance Response (STAR)

This framework guides how the school responds to attendance levels across four thresholds:

Level	Absence Range per Term	Response Focus
Green	0–4 days	Reinforce good habits, share positive feedback
Yellow	5–9 days	Initial concern, formal notice, whānau contact
Amber	10–14 days	SLT involvement, attendance meeting, support plan
Red	15+ days	Multi-agency response, potential referral to Attendance Service or MOE prosecution pathway

Key Points:

• Each level builds on the actions of the previous.
• Individual circumstances are considered (e.g., medical conditions).
• Early and supportive intervention is prioritised.

 

Appendix B – Attendance Support Plan Template

Student Name: ________________________ Class/Year: __________________________

Date Initiated: _______________________

 

Section	Details
Attendance History	[E.g. 14 days absent in Term 2]
Whānau Input	[Whānau outline key reasons, barriers]
Barriers Identified	[Transport, illness, anxiety, etc.]
Agreed Actions (School)	– Check-in with DP daily – Referral to counsellor – Teacher to send work home when absent
Agreed Actions (Whānau)	– Notify school of absences – Morning routine improvements – Attend support meeting fortnightly
Agencies Involved	[e.g. Attendance Service, Oranga Tamariki]
Review Date	[Insert date]
Signatures
Whānau: ____________	School: ____________

Appendix C – HERO Roll Entry Quick Guide

Daily Expectations

• Mark Roll by 9:15am each morning.
• Use codes in line with MOE requirements:

Code	Meaning
P	Present
L	Late
E	Explained absence (e.g. illness, bereavement)
U	Unjustified (no explanation or invalid reason)
F	Family holiday (not approved)
M	Medical appointment (explained)

Process for Relievers

• Paper roll sheets are available in the office for relievers.
• Office will enter attendance into HERO after collection.