Regular and punctual attendance is an essential prerequisite to effective learning. When children
are not in school they miss out on the educational opportunities which the school has to offer
them. Children with poor attendance tend to achieve less in secondary school.

There are specific strategies to address the needs of those children who experience difficulty in
attending regularly. A whole school approach to attendance therefore, focuses primarily on
promoting attendance but will also address the issue of absenteeism, especially persistent
absenteeism, when it occurs.