11:50am Thursday 5th March 2009
TRUANCY rates have fallen in the borough over the past year, according to annual pupil absence statistics for 2007 to 2008.
Figures from the department for children, schools and families revealed that fewer youngsters were skipping school in Warrington, unlike the national trend which saw an increase of 0.1 per cent.
Warrington has seen unauthorised absenses fall by more than three per cent for primary, secondary and special schools since academic year 2005 to 2006.
Speaking about the national increase, Stephen Clarke, managing director of Truancy Call Ltd, said: “To tackle truancy head-on, the Government and schools must engage parents in the very earliest stages of absenteeism so that children missing the odd lesson can be quickly identified and wider problems.”
Mr Clarke stressed the importance of early prevention strategies aimed at challenging parents and alerting them when their child is off school.
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