Soaring truancy rates in West Sussex
NUMBERS of pupils bunking off school recently have soared, with 70 children stopped recently, compared to only 47 a year ago.A county-wide truancy initiative by Sussex Police and county council education welfare officers has been carried out as part of an ongoing programme to maintain high levels of attendance and keep truancy down.
Teams visited Steyning, Pulborough, Shoreham, Lancing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Crawley, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Angmering and Worthing
A total of 70 children were stopped and 52 children were returned to school. Children stopped will have their attendance at school monitored. All parents of unaccompanied children who were stopped will receive a letter regarding their children's absence and further action may be taken on specific cases.
(For full story see West Sussex Gazette March 21)