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Truancy setting kids up to fail By Sue Newman
sue.n@theguardian.co.nz
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Children who are regularly absent from school could be set up for life long learning difficulties, a primary school principal says. Truancy has been around for ever, but Allenton School principal Bruce Tilby is on a mission to ensure every child enrolled at his school attends regularly and on time. There were always children who were
absent for legitimate reasons, but like most schools, Tilby said, Allenton had a small number whose attendance was at best, sporadic. “It’s vital for children to be at school. If children are away regularly their learning suffers and so do their social relationships and their friendships,” he said. The school worked where it could with families on truancy issues, but regular, unexplained absences were
reported to the district’s attendance officer who would then visit a child’s home and take any further action that might be needed, Trilby said. Once a child is enrolled at a school, a parent or caregiver is required to ensure that child attended school regularly until they turn 16.
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