Parents expect to learn several key things from their child's school attendance:
- Progress in Learning and Academic Success: Parents want to see that regular attendance helps their child keep up with daily assignments, receive necessary instruction, and succeed on tests and quizzes. Good attendance is linked to academic achievement and helps children avoid falling behind
- Social Development: Parents expect their children to develop social skills such as interacting with peers and adults, sharing, cooperation, and communication through consistent attendance and participation in school activities
- Wellbeing and Routine: Attendance provides children with a structured daily routine, which supports their wellbeing and wider development. Parents want to understand how school attendance contributes to their child's emotional and physical health
- School Environment and Support: Parents look to learn how schools create a safe, calm, and supportive environment that promotes learning and addresses barriers to attendance. They expect schools to work collaboratively with families to support attendance and address challenges
- Communication and Engagement: Parents want clear, timely communication from schools about their child's attendance, progress, and any issues. They expect to be involved in their child's education and to receive support from the school when attendance problems arise
- Legal and Responsibility Awareness: Parents understand their legal duty to ensure their child receives full-time education through regular attendance, except for valid reasons such as illness or authorized absences. They expect guidance on their responsibilities and how to manage absences properly
In summary, parents expect attendance to be a foundation for their child's academic success, social skills, wellbeing, and overall development, with schools providing support, communication, and partnership to ensure regular attendance and address any barriers
