Truancy is the unauthorised absence from school of a pupil. Nationally and in South Gloucestershire the level of truancy has been highlighted as cause for significant concern. The South Gloucestershire Education Welfare Service is tackling the matter of truancy as a priority.
Many approaches are being combined to effect change. Some are school-led and others are led by the Education Welfare Service. There are numerous examples of joined-up working such as: - Regular truancy patrols in partnership with the police
- Education Welfare officers providing advice to schools in respect of attendance matters and policies
- Monitoring of attendance statistics
- Joint action planning and reward initiatives
- The development of an effective working relationship with the new Connexions service
Prosecution for non-school attendance is a high profile part of the work of South Gloucestershire Education Welfare Service. In the academic year 2000/01 there were 9 prosecutions and 11 in 2002/03.
The Education Welfare Service is well aware of the difficult issue of cross-border non-attenders who have a significant impact of the levels of truancy. Legal action against parents who do not live in South Gloucestershire needs to be taken by the authority in which they live.
It is important that schools are aware of their duty in respect of authorisation of absence.
Penalty notices
Penalty notices came info force on 22nd April 2004. Subsection 1 of section 23 of the Antisocial Behaviour Act of 2003 adds 2 new sections (444A and 444B) after section 444 of the Education Act of 1996.
Penalty notices are for use in accordance with unauthorised absence. Penalties are set at £50 if paid within 28 days, rising to £100 if they are not paid after 28 days but within 42 days.