Attendance

Education means everything

The Department of Education and Training is committed to engaging with all students, families and communities to ensure all children are attending school every day.

It’s important to help your child be the best they can be and attending school every day provides the tools to succeed in life.

When it comes to bright futures, every school day counts.

Coming to school every day not only helps your child stay on top of their schoolwork, it also helps them build friendships, social skills and confidence.

It is where young minds learn and grow. Attendance really does matter. Education means everything.

Children who refuse to go to school

Your child might refuse to go to school. This is different to truancy. Your child may be upset at school or the thought of going to school.

This could be because of:

• bullying
• feeling lonely or not having friends
• falling behind in work or poor grades
• not liking their subjects, teachers or other students
• illness or mental health
• disability
• behaviour or development delays
• bad sleep habits
• learning at home is not encouraged
• relationship breakdowns
• hobbies or family commitments
• cultural differences between home and school.

It can be normal for children to go through a stage where they refuse to go to school.

It’s important to find out why they don’t want to go to school. Speak to them about what’s happening.

For more information on supporting student mental health and wellbeing, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Help for parents and caregivers

It can be normal for children to go through a stage where they do not want to go to school. It’s important to discuss why they don’t want to go and monitor early signs of behavioural changes relating to school attendance.

For example, if your child is showing signs of anxiety about going to school, it could indicate the beginning of a more serious and ongoing issue. It’s crucial to talk openly with your child about these concerns before they become more serious.

You can:

• talk to your child about their experiences of school including what's going on at school, what they like, and what they don't like
• talk to the school including the classroom teacher, year coordinator, or principal to try to solve the problems together
• plan with the school how to address any concerns your child might have and how to support them to feel less anxious or worried. Working together with the school wellbeing and leadership team is important to building your child’s sense of safety and wellbeing within the school environment
• support your child to talk things through with a trusted adult or support your child to access qualified counsellors or mental health clinicians for example kidshelpline, eheadspace , or your GP
• look after your own wellbeing. Parenting can be tough, and support is available, for example Parents Helpline – 1300 30 1300
• talk to the school about a referral to Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Programs and Services (SWIPS) to support your child at school.

For more information on SWIPS and the support available for students in government schools, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Attendance campaign 2024

• 1.27 minute video – It All Starts Here – Attend today, Achieve Tomorrow
  

Resources

• 2024 school calendar
• Poster - Attendance - Camera Guy PDF (2.2 MB)
• Poster - Attendance - Chef Guy PDF (2.2 MB)
• Poster - Attendance - Doc Boy PDF (2.0 MB)
• Poster - Attendance - Graduate Fella PDF (2.0 MB)
• Poster - Attendance - Pilot Girl PDF (1.8 MB)
• Poster - Attendance - Tradie Lady PDF (1.8 MB)
• Social media tile - Attendance - Camera Guy JPG (566.1 KB)
• Social media tile - Attendance - Chef Guy JPG (981.7 KB)
• Social media tile - Attendance - Doc Boy JPG (504.4 KB)
• Social media tile - Attendance - Graduate Fella JPG (890.5 KB)
• Social media tile - Attendance - Pilot Girl JPG (540.9 KB)
• Social media tile - Attendance - Tradie Lady JPG (964.0 KB)