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Truancy crackdown in Manchester

18/12/2007

The parents of children who were identified in a truancy sweep this week are being threatened with a fine.

In three sweeps, education officers found more than 160 children were not in school but wandering around Manchester city centre. Some of the truant children were accompanied by adults.

Parents will receive letters from the council warning them that if their child is caught truanting again within 15 days they will be instantly fined £50.

Councillor Pauline Newman said: "By combating truancy we are underlining the fact that attending school is absolutely essential to a child's future prospects.

"We realise that in the approach to the Christmas holiday there is a more relaxed atmosphere around us but being in school when you should be is a matter of being disciplined."

In related news, Barlow Hall primary school in Chorlton is celebrating after it rose to the top five per cent of the most improved schools in the UK for English.