Police truancy sweeps will be fortnightly in Slough

Thames Valley Police will carry out fortnightly truancy sweeps and monitor the attendance of previous truants under the borough's new campaign.

Support for families in the form of parenting training will be offered.

Of the 56 pupils spotted out of school in May during a borough truancy sweep, 49 of them were with their parents.

Legal action

When questioned, 25 parents gave illness as the reason for their child not attending lessons.

Claire Bell, acting principle education welfare officer at Slough Borough Council, said: "The image of truants is the teenagers pretending to go to school and then sneaking out, leaving their parents thinking they have gone to school.

"However, this image isn't true, as many children are off school with the full knowledge of their parents.

"The council is serious about ensuring children of school age attend school every day and we are working closely with the Department for Education and Skills on this."

Her comments come after magistrates sentenced one mother to 28-days in prison for failing to ensure her 10-year-old child attended school regularly.

A council spokeswoman said it was the third time the council had prosecuted the mother for failing to ensure her child's full-time attendance at school.

Ms Bell added: "Obviously, there are many ways in which we will try and help parents before deciding to prosecute.

"But when a parent persistently denies their child the right to an education we will not hesitate to take legal action."

The new fines system - penalty notices - will be in place in the new year.