About Us
We Got You.
Attendance West is a team of professionals from diverse backgrounds, committed to placing tamariki at the centre when identifying and addressing the reasons for non-attendance.
Established to remove the barriers faced by tamariki and whānau across West Auckland.
We work alongside schools, families and community partners to strengthen engagement in education, with attendance as a key focus. We understand that attendance is often a symptom — not the problem — and our approach is grounded in empathy, practical support and strong local relationships.
Our team provides community-led, sustainable solutions that support schools while walking alongside whānau. From guidance and coordination to practical assistance, we focus on creating long-term impact, not short-term fixes.
We continue to grow impact across West Auckland building strong systems, trusted partnerships and consistent support for those who need it most.
At the core of everything we do is a simple commitment:
We Got You.
Core Principles
Our preferred framework of practice is Te Ako Manaaki.
Young person at the centre
Are we doing what is best for this young person?
Solution-focused
How can we find a solution?
Valuing relationships
Are we being inclusive?
Inclusiveness & Collaboration
Are we enabling effective participation of all those that can contribute to positive outcomes?
Support & Strengthen
How can we contribute what we are expert at? How can we use what we already have? What gaps do we need to fill collectively?
Criteria
- Age: 5 – 17 years old.
- Chronic Absences (CA): Student has been absent for more than three consecutive days without a valid reason.
- Intermittent or Patterned Absences: Student is often absent or consistently missing school at certain times of the day.
- School Efforts Exhausted: School has taken all reasonable steps to address attendance concerns, and additional support is needed.
- Non-Enrolled (NEN): Student is not currently enrolled in any school.
Frameworks of Practice
The Te Ako Manaaki Framework aims to create a collaborative practice that improves outcomes for young people.
This approach is based on the Te Ako Manaaki model, developed by Janette Searle. Te Ako Manaaki is a research-based framework designed to support effective cross-sector collaboration and collaborative practice, with a focus on achieving social and well-being outcomes in communities. The model provides a structured approach for organizations working together to drive positive, long-term change.
We use the framework to:
- Address barriers to education for 5 to 17-year-olds
- Avoid students being excluded from education, and bring together the supports and services needed to keep them engaged in learning
- Address attendance issues for students, and help link them to the supports and services they need to improve their attendance and engagement in learning
- Improve the way schools, government agencies, and community organisations work together to improve outcomes for young people in their community.
Articles
Read about us in the Education Gazette, Vol. 103, No. 12 (23 September 2024)
