Report Your Child’s Absence | Useful Links

The Hamble School

Email

general@thehambleschool.co.uk

Phone

023 8045 2105
Attendance

Attendance

NEW: Absence Reporting Procedures

If you need to report that your child is absent from school, please use the information below to help you.

Reporting a non-COVID related absence:

You can report a non-COVID related absence via email or the Class Charts parent/ carer App. You must email attendance@thehambleschool.co.uk and include your child’s name, tutor group, reason for absence and estimated day of return on the email. If you are using the Class Charts parent/carer App, please use the following instructions to help you:

Class Charts parent/carer App Instructions – Download (PDF)

Reporting a COVID related absence:

If you are reporting a COVID related absence, please ensure that you complete the online form found here: https://tinyurl.com/THSCovidAbsence

It is important that you keep us up-to-date and resubmit this form every time your child’s situation changes throughout their self-isolation period. We would ask that you do not report a COVID related absence using email or the Class Charts App.

Please note that if you do not report an absence by 08:30am you may be contacted via text message or email through our truancy system.

Absence Reporting Procedures Letter –

NEW: Covid Related Pupil Absences – Guide for Parents/Carers

This guidance has been produced to alleviate the confusion around when to self-isolate and what to do following the Government changes on 16 August 2021.

Children under the age of 18 years and 6 months old are no longer required to self-isolate if they are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. However even those who are exempt from self-isolation are advised to get a PCR Test (if aged 5 and over) and to undertake other measures outlined in the guidance such as limiting contact with anyone who is extremely clinically vulnerable and (for those over 11), wearing a face covering in enclosed spaces while the person in the household is self-isolating.

Please be aware that the school is no longer responsible for identifying and informing close contacts and will only be involved in identification of close contacts if contacted directly by NHS Test and Trace.

You can view the full guidance on when to self-isolate and what to do here

Please see the table below for specific guidelines related to school (if viewing on your mobile phone turn your phone to landscape to view the whole table):

What to do if...Action needed...When to return to school…
What to do if your child has one or more symptoms of coronavirus
  • High temperature
  • New continuous cough
  • A loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell.
  • Do not send your child to school
  • Contact school to inform us
  • Book a PCR test
  • Self-isolate any members of the household who are not fully vaccinated and are over the age of 18 years and 6 months
  • Any other children and fully vaccinated adults do not need to self-isolate
  • Inform the school of the results.
  • PCR test comes back negative: return to school if your child feels well enough
  • PCR test comes back positive: return to school on the date advised by the NHS if your child feels well enough.
My child has tested positive for Covid-19 on a Lateral Flow Device
  • Do not send your child to school
  • Contact school to inform us
  • Book a PCR test
  • Self-isolate any members of the household who are not fully vaccinated and are over the age of 18 years and 6 months
  • Any other children and fully vaccinated adults do not need to self-isolate
  • Inform the school of the results.
  • PCR test comes back negative: return to school if your child feels well enough
  • PCR test comes back positive: return to school on the date advised by the NHS if your child feels well enough.
My child tests positive for Covid-19 on a PCR
  • Do not send your child to school
  • Contact school to inform us of the date of return advised by the NHS
  • Self-isolate any members of the household who are not fully vaccinated and are over the age of 18 years and 6 months
  • Any other children and fully vaccinated adults do not need to self-isolate.
  • Return to school on the date advised by the NHS if your child feels well enough.
Someone in my household has Covid-19 symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19 on a Lateral Flow Device
  • Household member with positive result to self-isolate and book a PCR test
  • Self-isolate any members of the household who are not fully vaccinated and are over the age of 18 years and 6 months
  • Any other children and fully vaccinated adults do not need to self-isolate.
  • Your child should continue to attend school providing they have no symptoms themselves
  • Please monitor them for any symptoms – note that children with Covid-19 may display mild symptoms such as headache/cold like symptoms.
Someone in my household has Covid-19 symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19 on a PCR
  • Household member with positive result to self-isolate until date advised by the NHS
  • Other members of the household should book a PCR test
  • Self-isolate any members of the household who are not fully vaccinated and are over the age of 18 years and 6 months
  • Any other children and fully vaccinated adults do not need to self-isolate.
  • Your child should continue to attend school providing they have no symptoms themselves
  • Please monitor them for any symptoms – note that children with Covid-19 may display mild symptoms such as headache/cold like symptoms.
NHS Test and trace has identified my child as a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19
  • Child should continue to attend school
  • NHS Test and Trace will give instructions on whether a PCR test is required and what other measures should be taken to minimise risks.
  • Your child should continue to attend school providing they have no symptoms themselves
  • Please monitor them for any symptoms – note that children with Covid-19 may display mild symptoms such as headache/cold like symptoms.
NHS Test and trace has identified a member of my household member as a close contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19
  • Your child should continue to attend school
  • The household member/s must self- isolate if instructed by NHS Test and Trace.
  • Your child should continue to attend school providing they have no symptoms themselves
  • Please monitor them for any symptoms – note that children with Covid-19 may display mild symptoms such as headache/cold like symptoms.
My child is ill with symptoms not linked to Covid-19 but could be contagious i.e. sickness or is too ill to come to school
  • Your child should not attend school
  • Contact school to inform us on the first day by phone or email
  • Please keep us updated regarding the absence.

Please keep the school updated throughout the process so that we have an accurate record of your child’s situation.

Covid Related Pupil Absences: Guide for Parents/Carers – Download (PDF)

All students at The Hamble School should have an attendance percentage of 96% or above. The school recognises the importance of excellent attendance and punctuality in order that students can maximise and achieve their potential. Parents are legally responsible to ensure their child attends school regularly and attend on time. The school expects students to be in school and on time every day barring serious illness or accident. Good attendance is vital in ensuring your child achieves the best possible outcomes when they leave The Hamble School and move on to further education. It also ensures that they are well versed in the standards required for successful future employment.

Should my child stay at home from school?

We are often asked if a child needs to be kept home from school. Often, staying at home has a more negative impact on the child than attending school with a minor ailment. If your child does not have a temperature but has a cough, cold, headache or earache then as with adults, the medical advice is to give them pain relief and send them into school. We have a School Matron who will contact you if your child’s condition worsens. The school will not authorise all absences deemed to be an invalid reason to keep your child at home. Unauthorised absences can lead to a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Please refer to the ‘Every day Counts’ leaflet in the downloads in the sidebar for more information.

Absence Procedures

  • If your child is absent from school due to illness, please leave a message on the class charts App, their tutor group and the reason for absence. Alternatively, this can be done using the voice messaging system if you cannot access class charts. This can be done by calling 023 8045 2105 and pressing option 1 to leave a message. Alternatively, email attendance@thehambleschool.co.uk before 8.30am with the above information.
  • The school requests that students should not be taken out of school for non-urgent medical appointments. If your child has a medical appointment a letter or appointment card must be provided. Any absences without proof will be unauthorised, these can also be attached to the absence message on class charts when your report your child’s absence. These can be handed to the attendance officer when  your child signs out, or emailed in to attendance@thehambleschool.co.uk
  • If your child is absent with no reason the school will telephone/text and e-mail parents/carers on the first day of absence. If you do not respond to the contact the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
  • If your child’s absence becomes a cause for concern we will inform you via letters and meetings. Strategies will be discussed to improve your child’s attendance. Any student whose attendance drops below 90% is classified as persistently absent. If there are no valid reasons for this amount of absence and improvement cannot be seen, parents are liable to be issued with either a Fixed Penalty Notice or the school will make a referral to the Attendance Legal Panel. This could result in court proceedings.
  • A child may be at risk of harm if they do not attend school regularly. This could be considered a safeguarding matter.

Safeguarding

A child may be at risk of harm if they do not attend school regularly. This will be considered a safeguarding matter.

Holidays taken during term time

The school does not permit holidays to be taken during term time. Parents/carers should be aware that the law now enforces the position regarding holidays. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, which became law on 1 September 2013, state that the Headteacher may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Parents/carers who take their child out of school for five or more days during term time, without the authority of the Headteacher, will be liable to receive a penalty notice.

If you require more information please refer to the documents listed in the sidebar downloads section.

Rewards for good attendance

Students are rewarded every week for 100% attendance. Students receive reward points and these go towards end of term certificates/prizes.

The school also provides many different rewards for excellent attendance and most improved attendance. These include cinema vouchers, love2shop vouchers, attendance fast pass, Easter eggs and many more!

If you would like to discuss your child’s attendance in more detail please contact their tutor or Miss Sherrell (Attendance Officer).

If you require a Leave of Absence form you or your child can pick one up from the school reception desk.

(Click the images for a larger view)

Attendance Matters
Punctuality

DOWNLOADS