Your child is absent. What does the school do about it?

Feeling seen and supported

Three-quarters of parents indicate in the study that the school notices when their child is absent. Two-thirds of parents feel that their child feels seen and supported at school. Slightly more than half of the parents consider their cooperation with the school to be (very) good.

Parents insufficiently familiar with the attendance policy and approach to absence

Almost all parents agree that the attendance rules should be easy for pupils and parents to find. Nevertheless, more than a quarter of the parents surveyed say they do not know what the school does when their child is absent. And 41% of parents say they do not know what the school does when their child is absent without notifying the school.

Too little action and contact when a child is absent from school

In the case of a longer absence (more than 16 hours in 4 weeks), a quarter of these parents say they have had no contact with the school about their child's absenteeism. Almost half of the parents surveyed (41%) say that the school takes no action in the event of a longer absence.

About the study and the National Parent Panel

A total of 956 parents with a child in primary or secondary school took part in the study. The results provide an indication of parents' experiences regarding attendance at schools and the measures taken by the minister. Would you also like to have your say on important school-related topics? Then sign up for the National Parent Panel.

Questions and contact

Do you have questions about the rules on attendance established by the school? Or is your child dealing with absenteeism and would you like advice? Then contact the advice service of Ouders & Onderwijs by calling or sending a WhatsApp message to 088-6050101, or via the contact form on the Ouders & Onderwijs website.