§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were found to be truant each year since 1997; if she will make a statement on truancy and measures planned and introduced to combat it; and what is done with children that are consistently truant from school despite action taken. [46169]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe table gives the number of children who had one or more sessions (half-days) of unauthorised absence in each year since 1997. Unauthorised absence includes all absences that the school has decided not to approve.
Thousand Academic year1 Number of pupils with at least one session of unauthorised absence Total number of compulsory school age pupils 1996–97 1,015.0. 7,011.8 1997–98 1,065.2 6,977.3 1998–99 1,114.4 7,071.6 1999–2000 1,124.7 7.102.3 2000–01 1,171.2 7,176.2 1Information is collected from schools for the period from September to May We have put into place a package of measures that help schools to set a tough clear policy on truancy including all of the measures recommended in the Social Exclusion Unit's report 'Truancy and School Exclusion' in 1998. We are providing more support than ever before to schools and local education authorities to tackle attendance and behaviour problems; over three years we have provided in excess of £500 million to support local projects.
Improving school attendance is a key aim for the new Connexions Service; personal advisers provide support to young people disengaged from education, helping to reduce barriers to attending school regularly. Learning Mentors in Excellence in Cities areas have an important role in securing good relations between school and home, fostering a positive attitude to learning on the part of families and helping them to support their children.