Absence & Attendance
Please notify the school of any absences, including arriving late, for the duration of the student’s absence using Class Charts (https://www.classcharts.com/parent/login).
Through Class Charts by 08:30 each day (preferred method):
1. By 08:30, open the Class Charts App or login to the website (https://www.classcharts.com/parent/login).
2. Select the 'Absences' Tab
3. Click on 'Report New Absence'
4. Complete the form with the information requested
5. Click the 'Submit' button
By phone by 08:30 each day:
Report absences for the duration of the student's absence by calling 02380 862981 (option 1). Please leave a message including...
1. The student's name
2. Tutor Group
3. Nature of illness / appointment
4. Expected return date / time
If notification hasn't been received by 08:30, contact will be made with parents / carers via text alert. Please ensure that you respond.
Our Attendance Policy can be found under the 'General Policies' section on our 'School Policies' webpage.
School Attendance Lead / Champion:
Miss Ellard, Assistant Headteacher (Strategic oversight on Attendance Management)
We recognise that good attendance is important in helping young people to achieve socially, academically and to develop important skills beyond their time with us.
Students should be in school every day, and their attendance will ideally be 100%, however, we recognise that at times there maybe illness / medical appointments. All students should strive for 96%+ attendance over an academic year. Where possible, students’ medical appointments should be made outside of school hours. Absence impacts learning time and progress.
At times we know that some students may experience difficulties coming into school and we would ask that you contact your child’s tutor with any concerns in the first instance.
As a school, we will celebrate good attendance.
Students are registered at the start of every lesson
Statutory registration is 8:30-9am every day (am session) and Period 4 at 12:10pm (pm session). Registers are taken during tutor / assembly time. Any student arriving after the register closes will be marked late (L).
Any student arriving after 9am will be marked present when they sign in at Student Services and will receive a U code. This means they are counted as absent for the am session of the day.
Leaving School Premises
Students must have a note in their log book, signed by their parent/carer or by adding a notification to Class Charts, for any period they will be leaving the school premises during school hours.
Before leaving the school premises, the student must visit Student Services to sign out with the note.
Where possible, medical appointments should be made outside of the school day.
Late Arrivals
Any student arriving after tutor time finishes, must report to Student Services to sign in.
Arrival after 9am will be marked as 'U' code and will not be counted as an authorised attendance. Please ensure Student Services are notified for planned late arrivals by either adding a note to Class Charts or by a written / signed note in the student's logbook.
Student Services and Medical Room Provision
Students must have a note in their log book, signed by their parent/carer or by adding a notification to Class Charts if they have an appointment out of school during the school day, e.g. dental / hospital appointment / college interview. Students must inform their Tutor / the teacher taking the lesson impacted, and sign out in the Student Services Office.
Students must sign back in again upon their return to school.
Is my child too ill for school?
Please review the advice from the NHS... Is my child too ill for school?
Hampshire County Council's Information for parents on supporting your child’s attendance... https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/behaviour-attendance-parents#step-3
Absence for Family Holidays or other reasons
Regular attendance by all students is both a legal requirement and essential for consistent progress and achievement for a student to reach their full educational potential.
Parents/carers and teachers share the responsibility for supporting and promoting excellent school attendance and punctuality. It is our shared duty to consistently strive to achieve a goal of 100% attendance for all students.
Despite a recent national legal challenge, the law states that Headteachers cannot grant leave of absence during term time, unless there are exceptional circumstances (rare, significant and unavoidable events). It is at the discretion of the Headteacher if leave is authorised. Please be aware, such absence can lead to the issue of Fixed Penalty Notices (fines) for non-attendance or persistent unauthorised attendance.
Following a review of the law by the Supreme Court the school will follow the latest Hampshire County Council guidance on issuing Fixed Penalty Notices.
All requests for student's 'leave of absence' must be made by completing the following form and emailing it to admin@hounsdown.hants.sch.uk.
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