Police carry out regular truancy patrols

Cumbria County Council has set up an initiative with the slogan "Truancy - only a fool would miss school".

It will be seen on Stagecoach buses around the county in the next few weeks.

It is one of the measures used by the council to show children the importance of being in school.

Council officials and the police carry out regular truant patrols and there are courses on offer which offer parents advice and put them in touch with others who are experiencing similar problems.

Since September there has also been a fast-track prosecution scheme in place.

This is used when a child has missed at least ten days during any four-week period without an acceptable reason and the parents have not resolved the situation with the school.

Better opportunities

Parents will then be given 12 weeks to improve their child's attendance and if they do not, the case will be referred to court.

Councillor Joan Stocker, cabinet spokesperson for education, said: "Cumbria County Council's local education welfare service works very hard to keep unnecessary absence from school as low as possible.

"Many types of intervention are used to try and help families experiencing difficulties relating to school attendance."

Barry Armstrong, acting attendance and exclusion manager said: "Although overall attendance levels in Cumbria continue to improve, we must not be complacent.

"We believe we can make further improvements and that these will benefit everyone in our society.

"They will give our young people even better opportunities in adult life, and will enable them to make the best possible contribution to our communities."