10 Nov 2026

November 2026

 

3 Nov 2026

Free Online GP Care for Kids (Ages 0–13)

Health NZ is offering free 24/7 online GP visits for children aged 0–13. If your child is sick and you can’t get an appointment with your normal doctor, or need care after hours, you can access a doctor by video or phone from anywhere in NZ. Prescriptions are sent straight to your local pharmacy.

Book or Learn More: Health NZ Online GP Care
Not sure if your child is too sick for school? Read the Health NZ School Guidance.

31 Aug 2026

Every day at school makes a difference

At Conifer Grove School, we believe that regular attendance is one of the most important ways we can support your child to succeed at school.

The Ministry of Education states:

“Your child is legally required to be at school every day, unless they are sick.”

Parents and legal guardians are responsible for making sure their child attends school every day that school is open, until they are at least 16 years old.

Regular attendance gives children the best opportunity to learn, build friendships, participate in school activities and make progress. The Ministry of Education also notes that missing just one week of school each term can add up to a whole year of missed learning by the time a child is 16.

HOW WE WILL SUPPORT YOUR CHILD
To help support regular attendance, Conifer Grove School follows the Ministry of Education's Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) framework.

 

🟢 FEWER THAN 5 DAYS ABSENT - Good attendance

We will continue to monitor attendance and encourage students to attend regularly.

 

🟡 5–9 DAYS ABSENT - Attendance becoming a concern

When your child reaches 5 days absent in a term, their teacher will make a phone call home.

This is an opportunity to:

Check in and see how your child and whaanau are doing.
Understand the reasons for the absences.
Identify any barriers affecting attendance.
Discuss how we can support your child to attend more regularly.

🟠 10–14 DAYS ABSENT - Attendance is a concern

When your child reaches 10 days absent in a term, we will contact you to arrange a family meeting at school.

Together, we will:

Discuss your child's attendance.
Identify any barriers affecting regular attendance.
Develop strategies to support improved attendance.
Discuss what support may be available for your child and whaanau.
Monitor your child's attendance and progress.
At this stage, an individual attendance support plan may be put in place as part of the STAR response. This plan is designed to identify the reasons for absence and outline the support and actions needed to help your child return to regular attendance.

 

🔴 15+ DAYS ABSENT - Very concerning attendance

When a student reaches 15 or more days absent in a term, a more intensive response may be required.

The school will:

Review the attendance support plan.
Continue working closely with whaanau.
Identify any ongoing barriers to attendance.
Consider additional support from the Attendance Service or other agencies where appropriate.
Continue monitoring attendance and progress.

WORKING TOGETHER

Attendance is a shared responsibility between students, whaanau, schools and support services.

If your child is going to be absent, please let the school know as soon as possible and provide a reason for the absence.

If your child is finding it difficult to attend school regularly, please talk to us. We want to work alongside you to understand what is happening and find ways to support your child.

Every day counts. Every day of learning matters.

 

Ngaa mihi 

Conifer Grove School

 

 

REGULAR-ATTENDANCE-MATTERS.pdf

Reporting-a-student-absence.pdf