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Primary and secondary schools

Phone messages for schools

Before the bell, many parents ring the school office to report an absence. A clear absence option takes those calls off the front desk and gets the details the roll needs.

Hear an example

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Public school absence line

Absence on 1 with the details to leave, front office on 2, office hours.

Read the transcript

Welcome to Kookaburra Creek Public School. To report a student absence, press one, then leave your child's full name, their class, and the reason they're away. For the front office, press two. The office is open from half past eight until half past three on school days.

Two school-calendar points to plan for

Student-free days

NSW public schools have school development days, when students do not attend because there are no timetabled lessons. Other states call them pupil-free or student-free days. Parents ring to check; say it in the greeting the day before and on the day.

Different start dates within a state

In NSW, Term 1 starts a week later in the Western division than in the Eastern division. If you run a network of schools or a regional office, give each school its own term dates on the phone.

Scripts for schools

Absence line

Details to leave

You've reached the absence line for [school name]. After the tone, please say your child's full name, their class or year, the date of the absence and the reason. Thank you.

Main menu

Office, uniform shop, canteen

Welcome to [school name]. To report an absence, press one. For the front office, press two. For the uniform shop, press three. For before and after school care, press four.

Development day

No students today

Thanks for calling [school name]. Today is a school development day, and there are no classes for students. The office is open from [09:00] to [15:00].

Holidays

Office closed for holidays

You've reached [school name]. The school is closed for the holidays. Term [number] starts on [weekday, date]. For enrolment enquiries, please email [email address].

Emergency

School closed today

This is an important message from [school name]. The school is closed today, [date], because of [reason]. Please check [website or app] for updates.

From the studio

01

Ask for the details in order

Name, class, date, reason. Parents follow a fixed order better than an open question.

02

A friendly but neutral voice

Parents, students and suppliers all call the same number. A calm voice suits all of them.

03

Have the closure message ready

Prepare the emergency closure greeting at the start of the year. On the morning you need it, there is no time to write one.

Questions

Can parents leave the absence message at any time?

Yes, if your phone system routes the absence option to a voicemail box around the clock. Say in the greeting when the office checks the messages.

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