Why Regular School Attendance Matters for Victorian Students
Regular school attendance is one of the most important factors in a child’s educational success, say experts from the Victorian Department of Education. The Every Day Counts and It’s Not OK to Be Away initiatives make it clear that every day a student misses school is a day of lost learning, social connection and development.
In Victoria, children of compulsory school age are expected to attend school on every school day unless they are genuinely unwell or have a legitimate reason for absence. Parents and carers are legally required to ensure their children are at school and to notify the school on the day of the absence with a clear explanation. Unless this communication occurs, schools record absences as unexplained and must follow up with families.
The Every Day Counts campaign highlights that there is no safe number of days for missing school. Missing even one day every fortnight can add up to four weeks of lost learning in a year, a pattern that significantly affects achievement in literacy, numeracy and other core subjects.
Beyond academics, regular attendance helps students build confidence, form friendships and develop skills such as resilience and teamwork. School is a place where young people learn how to learn and how to engage positively with peers and adults, opportunities that are hard to replicate outside the classroom.
The It’s Not OK to Be Away message reinforces that absences without a valid reason such as non-urgent family holidays during term time should be avoided. When students are away without explanation, schools work with families to understand the reasons and provide support where attendance is a concern.
For families, the message is simple: Every day at school counts. By working with schools and prioritising attendance, parents can help ensure their children get the most out of their education now and into the future.
