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How the attendance service supports students#
About 80,000 students are chronically absent each school term. This means they miss more than 30% of school time. About 20,000 students also become non-enrolled from school each year.
The attendance services model can support up to around 80,000 students per year. Its 2 main components are:
- a comprehensive attendance service for chronically absent and non-enrolled students – 1 provider in each of 84 catchments
- funding for 170 schools to provide extra support to some of their chronically absent students – this is called in-school provision.
The attendance services model is supported by a case management system. This is used by all attendance service providers and all schools with in-school provision funding.
Find details of the schools within each catchment and names of attendance service providers.
Key features of the new service#
Case management
Providers deliver case management services to chronically absent and non-enrolled students within their catchment. They address barriers to improve attendance.
Comprehensive services
Providers offer a broad range of support to schools and referred students, including:
- advice
- targeted assistance
- administration of a fund for unmet basic needs.
Relationships
To support positive attendance outcomes, providers must build and maintain strong relationships with students, families, schools, communities, and agencies.
Inclusive engagement
Providers are expected to engage meaningfully with students and families from diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Cultural responsiveness
Providers must be able to engage effectively with Māori and Pacific students and their whānau | families and aiga in culturally appropriate ways to foster trust and improve attendance.
Guidance for attendance service providers#
Case management system guidance
Key dates for 2026#
Key dates for 2026 are:
- Monday 5 January – new attendance services are operational.
- Monday 5 January – the new case management system for attendance services goes live.
- Term 1 – new referrals start.
Newsletters#
Download our fortnightly newsletter for attendance service providers.
