Half the pupils out of school without permission in the latest crackdown in England were with parents - which is on a par with previous truancy sweeps.

But the Department for Education says there are signs its "get tough" policy is working, with 10% fewer truants caught this time than in sweeps in May.

The vast majority of children stopped - almost 80% - had good reason to be out.

That is higher than on previous occasions.

Appointments

The Department for Education and Skills co-ordinated the fourth round of truancy sweeps across 18 local education authorities between 17 November and 5 December.

Police and educational welfare officers patrolled shopping centres and known truancy hotspots.

Most youngsters had permission to be out of school, for such things as medical appointments or to revise at home for exams.

A total of 3953 young people were approached, of which 848 (21%) were truants, the department said.

This compared favourably with the previous sweeps when over a third of those stopped were truanting.

'Disappointing'

"This early data also shows that 404 (48%) of the truants were with their parents - a ratio which is on par with previous sweeps.

"This is particularly disappointing as it indicates that too many parents still do not take their child's education seriously and are prepared to jeopardise their children's future - as well as break the law - for often trivial reasons.

Every day of education lost blights a child's life chances Education Minister Ivan Lewis

"For example, many were stopped in shopping centres and on high streets whilst out Christmas shopping."

"Putting Christmas shopping ahead of your child's education demonstrates the wrong priorities," said the Education Minister Ivan Lewis.

"A small minority of parents continue to flout their responsibilities. We will not tolerate this because every day of education lost blights a child's life chances."

The % truancy rate has changed little in England in recent years

His department said it recognised some children had serious problems and their parents struggled to cope, so it had invested in such things as mentoring, parent support sessions, in-school counselling and referral to education welfare services.

But still too many parents condoned their child's truancy and would be penalised.

Some 7,500 parents are prosecuted each year for failing to secure their child's regular attendance at school - with sanctions including imprisonment.

New spot fines of up to �100 are to be introduced next year.

A spokesperson for the department said: "The causes of truancy are often complex and challenging, but the national truancy sweep data, as well as the annual data reported by schools, appear to indicate that the first sustained national strategy to tackle truancy is beginning to bite.

"Since last year 1,200 truants have been returned to full-time education, and 133 of 150 local education authorities have reported an improvement in school attendance at secondary level.

"Previously, absence rates had remained largely unchanged since records began in 1994."