If you go out shopping during school hours between November and December with your school-aged child, do not be surprised if you are stopped by someone demanding to know why your child is off school.
It is called a ‘truancy sweep' and is conducted nationally twice a year by multi-disciplinary teams made up from the police, welfare and social services. The teams trawl supermarkets, shopping malls and high streets in search of children absent from school without permission, and with 85 per cent of local authorities taking part, there is bound to be a sweep near you.
Figures released at the beginning of autumn 2007 show that the overall rate of unauthorised absences stands at record level. Secondary schools have seen rates fall by less than one per cent, but primary schools have seen an increase of almost seven per cent - the worse ever figures for primary level. Education authorities say that parentally condoned absence is a bigger problem than ‘regular truancy' and is a factor in the rise in the number unauthorised absences among primary schoolchildren.
During the truancy sweep in March 2007, more than 10,000 children were stopped over a three-week period. Of those, 5,000 did not have a valid reason for not being in school, 20 per cent of these were from primary school, and 35 per cent of these truants were with an adult. Teaching unions are urging parents to work closely with schools to tackle the problem.
Generally, the sweeps act as a deterrent as word gets around, and schools generally see improvements in attendance during and immediately after.
They also help highlight other problems pupils may be experiencing, such as bullying, being a young carer, and pupils who may have been excluded or moved from another area but are not registered with any authority.
For some parents truancy sweeps highlighted the seriousness of non-attendance and parental responsibility, and schools saw a rise in absent notes and the number of ‘first day' contact by parents. But other parents felt humiliated and mistrustful at being stopped in the street. Sweeps have had little effect on those who fall into this category and who do not see unauthorised absences as a problem. The same is true for those parents who are unable to influence their child's behaviour.
Parents have a legal responsibility to ensure their children are properly educated, so if your child misses school regularly - even if they miss school without you knowing - the Local Authority could take legal action against you.
At best, this may result in a visit or letter from an education welfare officer. At worse, if attendance does not improve, it could lead to parents being fined up to £2,500, or even imprisoned.
Start with your child's school or the local education authority
Visit websites:
dfes.gov.uk/schoolattendance or info on all aspects of attendance including legislation
dfes.gov.uk/bullying for info and advice on bullying
