Toolkit for Reducing Truancy

“Every Day Counts”

Reaching Students. Supporting Whānau. Restoring Futures.

The government is spending millions of dollars asking for tenders for attendance services. We believe the school knows its community better than a centralised government or agency. Based on that, we have developed these 3 guides that contain strategies to get truants to re-engage with learning. The difference is, ours are fully customisable and you call the shots.

You can easily copy these guides and make any alterations you want to make them suit your needs and your community’s needs.

This practical toolkit is designed to help schools take real, meaningful steps toward reducing chronic truancy. Whether you’re an attendance officer, a teacher, or part of the school leadership team, these guides provide tailored support for reconnecting with students, engaging families, and shifting attendance patterns for the better.

Before you make your decision to purchase, you can download a copy of the student guide as an example of the toolkit content. This “copy” can not be used or circulated.

The toolkit includes three key guides:

(details further down)

• Supporting School Attendance Officers (105 pages)
  A hands-on resource for attendance staff with clear strategies, conversation tools, and intervention templates to help students feel seen, supported, and safe at school.

• Helping Students Want to Come to School (72 pages)
  A booklet that speaks directly to young people who have disengaged from school, encouraging them to face challenges, rebuild confidence, and take back control of their future by attending school.

• Supporting Parents and Whānau (101 pages)
  A guide for families who want to help their child re-engage with school, offering understanding, practical tips, and support pathways for home-school collaboration.

Once your school purchases this toolkit, you’ll receive an email containing:

• Links to download the PDF of each resource.
• Links to make a copy of the Google Docs and Microsoft Word versions, which you can edit and adapt for your local context.

So you get 3 kits in 3 formats – Making it the easy for you to copy, personalise and distribute in your school!

PLUS: Order today and you will get our original Truancy Resource Pack for FREE in the same 3 formats!

These resources are designed to be flexible, inclusive, and easy to use—whether in one-on-one meetings, whānau support settings, or as part of a wider school attendance strategy.

Together, we can make every day count.

If you prefer paperback books, the international versions of each are available through Amazon:

• Attendance Officers Guide: https://amzn.to/4nulNyJ
• Student Guide: https://amzn.to/4klrk7V
• Parent Guide: https://amzn.to/4lhWxKK

So, in detail, this is the contents of each of the 3 guides:

Guide 1: Supporting School Attendance Officers

Reconnecting Students: A Practical Guide for Attendance Officers

1. Understanding Chronic Truancy
2. Building Relationships
3. Identifying Root Causes
4. Intervention Strategies
5. Coordinated School Support
6. Handling Resistance and Re-engagement
7. Celebrating Progress
Templates:
Student Conversation Prompts: Reconnecting and Re-engaging
Self-Reflection Tools for Students
Referral Checklist for Support Services
Attendance Action Plan

Guide 2: Helping Students Want to Come to School

You Belong Here: Your Guide to Taking Back Your Future

Outline:

1. Why School Matters: Your dreams need you to show up
2. What’s Stopping You? Facing Fears
3. Facing Your Fears and Taking Control
4. Rebuilding Your Confidence: Small wins every day
5. Getting the Right Help
6. You Have the Power: Rewriting Your Story

Plus templates and worksheets

Guide 3: Supporting Parents and Whānau

Help Them Show Up: A Parent’s Guide to Tackling Truancy

Outline:

1. Why Attendance Matters
2. Understanding the Root of Truancy
3. Strengthening the Home-School Relationship
4. Changing the Pattern at Home
5. Dealing with Resistance and Defiance
6. When Extra Help Is Needed
7. You’re Not Alone

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So in this one toolkit, you get guides to help in all areas to help staff, ākonga, and whānau

Download your entire toolkit now!