Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa

Let us keep close together, not far apart

The MoE is discontinuing the Attendance and Engagement Strategy Agreement in June 2025. The funding for the Attendance and Engagement Strategy has now been reinvested into Attendance Services across the country.

The funds ACES Attendance Service will receive has allowed the current staffing to remain in place. Their specialist skills will continue to support the existing and possible new pro-active activities. However, they will now also have a caseload and form part of the Attendance Advisors Team.

The change means ACES Attendance Service now have nine full-time and one part-time Attendance Advisors, one Non Enrolled Specialist and four people who have multiple roles e.g. working with the Managed Moves Team. Further, Managed Moves Youth Workers will work with Non Enrolled ākonga, 15.5 years of age and older. This role includes mentoring and supporting ākonga into learning pathways.

Assistance can include supporting the exemption process when this is needed; Or, working with unjustified absence cases from alternative education. This role includes mentoring ākonga historically disengaged from education.

ACES has to acknowledge the work of the Attendance + Engagement Team, for the work they

have done in the last 18 months. The support they have provided has allowed development to take

place within schools, with their attendance management systems.

Visiting a school with a Specialist the Principal stated the importance of the role and said:

“The MoE finally provided us with a person-resource that has guided us to review our

Attendance Management Practice and with their expertise and knowledge, has had an impartial

view to critique and influence us, on this School’s Attendance Management Policy, in order to

become a working document.”

Kia tāea = Kia akoranga = Kia angitū. He waka eke noa tātou.

Arrive/Attend = Learning = Success/Opportunity. We are all in this together

I am Danny Bernard, new Attendance Advisor for ACES and proud of my Samoan and Niuean descent. I am deeply committed to my roles as a devoted husband and father to three remarkable sons and one beautiful daughter.

Outside of my personal commitments, I am an avid enthusiast of rugby league, finding joy in its intricacies and the camaraderie this sport fosters. Additionally, I maintain a keen interest in various sports, finding solace and inspiration in their competitive spirit.

Living each day with gratitude and purpose, I strive to navigate life's journey with humility and resilience.

PHONE: 022 521 9029 EMAIL: danny@aces.school.nz

My name is Ellen Clarken, your new Attendance Advisor who is born and raised in Glen Innes and take pride in my strong Cook Island and Scottish roots.

Family is at the heart of everything I do. I have three amazing kids and an incredible partner who inspire and motivate me every day.

I'm passionate about building meaningful connections, creating a positive environment and bringing dedication and energy to everything I do, both at work and in life.

PHONE: 022 191 5941 EMAIL: ellen@aces.school.nz

Buchanan Nuiapu who worked for ACES for 20 years passed away peacefully with his family around him. Buchanan was ACES Alternative Education Co-ordinator for enrolments and was key in setting in place the support plan for ākonga to pathway into AE and to attend one of ACES Campuses.

At his funeral Karyl Puklowski spoke of Buchanan, providing an insight of the man ACES staff knew, as an example of;" total professionalism, gentle with all his dealings, a person of wisdom, always available and no matter the pressure that surrounded him, always determined to support ākonga engaging in AE. Further proactively engaging their whānau / family who had questions or a school requesting support from ACES AE.

ACES came together on Friday 7th February at the Pacific Island Presbyterian Church Newton, Buchanan's much loved Church family, to honour the man who dedicated his life to alternative education for Auckland City. Manuia lou Malaga Buchanan.

2. An Attendance Advisor can only do a home visit, once a refereal has been lodged through ASA, as this gives permission for the Attendance Advisor to connect with Whanau or family.

KPI 3:

All non enrolled cases open longer than six months must have a plan in place to re-engage the ākonga back into school or a learning environment. The plan must include options that result in a case closure within the following two months.

A) 100% of cases open longer than six months have a plan in place.

• Non enrolled cases increased by 19% (compared to 2023).

• Pro-active intervention with 15 plus aging out with a Youth Mentor.
• Waiting for another agency to intervene or, an application is being processed.
• Disengaged and Attendance Advisor is continuing to work with possible options.
• Cannot find ākonga and plan is to use search engines available at least once a term as well as go back on information to recheck contact details.

• One overdue case (without a plan) was transferred to ACES Attendance Service (overdue at the time the case was received) and attendance service had not yet connected to the case.

B) Up to 75% of overdue plans are executed, resulting in non enrolled case closure within 2 months
24 / 30 (80%).

KPI Three was MET.

Background:

• Educational history of nga ākonga includes two non enrolled notifications with other attendance services.
• Last day in a school was December 2021.
• Oranga Tamariki had closed the case as they had no care and protection concerns.

ACES Involvement:

• Eight home visits before a conversation started.
• Gathered information from previous schools and reconnected with Oranga Tamariki.
• Set in place professional meetings to support enrolment.
• Provided financial assistance to support enrolment.

Outcome:

• Enrolled in the school with the supports required for enrolment.
• Oldest sibling attended school camp in term 4 due to collaboration of support between their school, ACES and the agency.
• Parent still keeps in contact with Attendance Advisors to provide updates on her children.