INFORMATION ON TRANSPORT, ABSENCE AND SICKNESS OF CHILDREN FOR PARENTS

Attendance & Absences

What to do if your child is absent

To help us ensure all students are safe and accounted for, please let the school office know if your child will be away. We kindly ask that you notify us before 9:00am each day.

• Call us: (07) 849 3029

• Email us: attendance@hamnorth.school.nz

Arriving Late or Leaving Early

To maintain a safe learning environment and minimise disruptions, our classrooms are closed to outside access during school hours (9:00am – 2:30pm) without prior arrangement.

If you are dropping your child off late or picking them up early, please sign them in or out at the school office first. The office staff will contact the classroom and have a staff member collect your child or bring them to the office to meet you.

SESTA School Transport

Cancelling Transport (Daily Absences)

If your child does not require transport on a particular day, please contact the transport provider by 7:15am so the driver does not make an unnecessary trip to your property.

Important Note: Drivers cannot pass on messages or notify the school if a child is absent or unwell. You must contact both the transport provider and the school office directly.

Day-to-Day Schedule Changes

The transport provider is Cross Country Rentals. For any day-to-day transport schedule changes, please contact their team directly:

• 0800 467 3782  or  E-Text 027 02440 201001

Changing or Adding an Address

To update your child's transport profile with a new address, please contact Tracy at the school office:

• Phone: 07 849 3029    Email: admin@hamnorth.school.nz

Please Note: All address changes require a minimum of 4–6 weeks to be processed by the Ministry of Education (MoE). If you move before MoE approval is officially confirmed, you will need to arrange your own transport to and from school during this transition period.

SESTA Roles & Responsibility of the Caregiver 

The following information provided is what may be reasonably expected from caregivers, when a new transport application has been approved and SESTA transport commences.

Caregivers are:

a) Responsible for advising school when personal contact details change, i.e. changes to a phone number or address. School will then formalise a change of information request to the Ministry of Education.

b) To assist student/s in understanding safety rules and encourage them to abide by them during their transport journey each day;

c) Expected to work with the transport provider and driver to ensure safe and appropriate student handovers;

d) To recognise their responsibility for the actions of their children; 

e) To ensure that the student has been toileted, and is ready to be collected from the front entrance of their home at the agreed time;

f) To ensure that the student has finished eating their breakfast prior to travelling;

g) Responsible for ensuring that the vehicle collection/drop-off points have clear access;

h) Responsible for informing the driver, and school if there have been any changes or events that may impact on student behaviour;

i) Where specific safety equipment is required (e.g., carrot car seats, harnesses, and/or buckle guards), an Occupational Therapist from Hamilton North School will work with families to ensure the correct equipment and consents are in place, including supporting applications for Ministry funding where appropriate.  Parents/caregivers are responsible for providing an approved, appropriately fitted booster seat if one is required. 

j) Responsible for assisting students, where required, in and out of the vehicle and fastening the seat belt and any other personal positioning devices.

k) Responsible for being home to meet the student or SESTA vehicle both AM and PM.