Lake Cathie Public School

Spirit Opportunity Excellence

Telephone02 6584 8060

Emaillakecathie-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Attendance and absences

Attendance and absences

Students must attend school regularly so they can achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options.

In NSW, all children from the age of 6 are legally required to attend school or be registered for home schooling through the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). All students must complete Year 10, or its equivalent.

For more information about compulsory school attendance, visit:

Missing school means your child misses out on vital information and maintaining learning routines. This can result in a loss of confidence and missing out on forming vital friendships.

Attendance is recorded each day. As a parent or caregiver, you are responsible for ensuring your child attends school every day, including sports days unless your child:

  • has an unavoidable medical or dental appointment (preferably these should be made after school or during holidays)
  • is required to attend a recognised religious holiday
  • is required to attend an exceptional or urgent family circumstance (such as attending a funeral)
  • is sick, or has an infectious illness.

If you are having difficulty getting your child to attend school regularly, you might like to talk to the school principal or the school counsellor.

If your child has to be absent from school for any reason please either submit an absence through School Bytes Parent portal, tell your child's teacher or the administration office at our school, or explain the reason by phone, email, written note or respond to the SMS sent by the school as soon as possible and within seven days. If your child is arriving late or leaving early please come to the school administration office first to sign your child in or out.

If your child will be absent from school for five or more days due to a family holiday, an "Application for extended leave - travel " must be completed prior to the absence.