The New Zealand Government has launched a national Attendance Action Plan to ensure 80% of students attend school regularly 

(for more than 90% of the term) by 2030.

 As part of this initiative, the Government has introduced the Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) framework. This system provides a consistent, nationwide approach to identify and support students at different stages of absence, ensuring that attendance barriers are addressed early.

Below, is our school’s Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) Plan, that aims to ensure a timely response to all absences, as well as effective tracking and escalated response in cases of concern. As your child's attendance moves into the different categories, you can see what we expect from you as whānau, as well as what you can expect from us as a school. If we can help support you further please do not hesitate to contact your child's classroom teacher or our Principal Corinne Rowe on principal@takakaprimary.school.nz. Let's work together to raise attendance at TPS!

Strategic Priorities:

The Importance of Regular Attendance – Every Day Counts!

At Tākaka Primary School, we expect regular attendance to ensure every learner has the best opportunity to succeed. 

The New Zealand Government has set a national attendance target of 80% of students regularly attending school by 2030. We will use attendance data to identify patterns early and respond proactively to learner needs. Establishing good attendance habits early on is key to success in learning and life.

2025 Attendance: Our school currently had 58% regular attendance in 2025.

Annual Target for 2026: Our target for 2026 is 70% of tamariki attending school regularly.

Your Role as Whānau:

It is a legal requirement for all learners enrolled in a registered New Zealand school to attend every day that school is open. Whānau play a crucial role in ensuring their child(ren) are at school and engaged in learning. Your role and responsibilities are:

• Ensure your child attends school daily unless sick or other justified reason

• Reinforce positive attendance habits

• Notify school of an absence through Hero

• Engage in school attendance processes and support when attendance issues arise.

Our attendance procedures: 

1. Classroom teacher marks attendance register before 9.00am

2. Known absences are coded by administration staff

3. Classes are checked to ensure students have not arrived late without signing in

4. Text sent to whānau requesting reason for absence from class

5. If no response by 9.30am, a phone call home is made

6. If no contact is received from whānau, then the student is marked truant at the end of the day. If contact is received after the absence, then this mark is changed to accurately reflect the reason.

Reporting an Absence:

• Click ‘Report an Absence’

• Tick ??? is sick today OR ??? will be late today OR ??? will be absent today (Please explain below)

• Then provide additional information for the school to be able to code the absence.  Eg: Orthodontic appointment in Nelson, On Holiday, Visiting a sick relative, etc

• Then click ‘Send Message’.

Justified or Unjustified Absence?

The decision on whether the explained absence is 'justified' or 'unjustified' is made based on the Ministry of Education (MOE) guidelines and the school's attendance policy. Click this link to see the MOE attendance codes. Of course, there will be times when your child/ren are genuinely unable to attend school, such as when they are unwell. In these cases, it’s important to communicate with us and let us know why your child is absent. 

• Justified absence: An explained absence within the school's policy as an acceptable reason for the student to be away. Eg: the student is sick or has suffered a bereavement. 

• Unjustified absence: An absence that is either unexplained, or explained, but the explanation is not within the school's policy as an acceptable reason for the student to be away from school. Eg: visiting family, day off for their birthday, slept in.

Truant: If you do not inform the school of an absence, and we cannot contact you to ascertain a reason, the absence is recorded as truant.

Absences due to Sickness:

Is Your Child Well Enough to Attend School?

The image below is a good guide to support you when making a decision about sending a child to school or keeping them home due to sickness. Alternatively, you can read further information on the following  Ministry of Education website: Ministry of Health guidelines or speak with your doctor for advice.

Absences Due to Travel or Holidays

All absences due to travel or holidays should be advised to the school in advance via the Office and Principal (email link below). We understand that there may be times when travel outside of school holidays is necessary, however, this should be a rare occurrence and only in exceptional circumstances. Teachers will not set extra learning for tamariki who are away for holidays, as the priority is on teaching the learners who are at school. These absences will be recorded as explained, but unjustified in attendance records and Ministry of Education reports.

principal@takakaprimary.school.nz and postie@takakaprimary.school.nz 

Daily: The Office Manager will:

• Follow up any unexplained absences, updating attendance notes in Hero

• Follow up any truant codes if no communication has been made with whānau.

Weekly: The Principal will:

• Check patterns of attendance and discuss these at our Leadership hui each week

• Report termly attendance data to the School Board showing analysis of data, trends and narratives

• Facilitate discussion with the leadership team using the termly analysis of data to identify next steps, adhering to the STAR thresholds.