Truancy Police

[floridalol]

I was shopping in Bournemouth yesterday (Monday) and a council worker and a policeman were stopping parents with school-age children and taking their names and addresses. Apparently a warning letter would follow. The mother looked rather shocked and I was wondering what penalties, if any, could be levied? Big Brother is finally here I think.

 

[SammieG]

about time too!!!
Mind you, my son broke up last week.. so I wonder what they would say to us!!

 

[SEVANS2208]

Haven't all the schools broken up now for Xmas?

 

[princess jackson]

My DD does not break up until Friday, i wish she would break up early so i can get things done, she is only at nursery 2 1/2 hours and is very tying. Shops do not open until 10 and she finishes at 1130 so no time then i start work at 4.

 

[gilld]

Police have stopped children with or without parents for a few years here. I think it's an excellent idea as there is far too much truancy.

We don't break up here until today so no more town for me now!

 

[FizzyPop]

Yes it is a very good idea I have been stopped in my car I had my eldest daughter with me and she had a hospital appointment, I had to drop something of to MIL on the way so we jumped out of the car gave her the something and then got back into the car. I started to drive up the road and a policeman put his hand out for me to stop A lady got out of his car with him and they asked me:

What school she goes to.....Ifield
Whay isnt she at school....we have to go to hospital
what is her name..... Hayleigh...
I explained what was wrong and that she is classed as disabled and she has quite a few hospital appointments. They were very nice even though it did make me feel as if I was doing something wrong. They did take notes but I never heard anything else about it, I dont even know if they did check up with the hospital.

 

[shellbell]

The schools break up here tomorrow, but i have seen alot of children off this week.

 

[Englands Disney Gang]

HI

I know the the major basics of this!!........Truancy officers have been on the scene for a while but now have been granted more power!!...they have what they call 'Truancy Swopes' basically nationwide days where they are out in force nationally!!

If they question you when you have your children they should automatically ask your/childs details. This is then forwarded to the local 'attendance officer' who will deal with schools in your area. They in turn will ring the school and speak headteacher. They will give the date the child was 'picked up' and see is the school has the absence as 'authorised' if they do then thats the end of it if the school does not know then a phone call to the home and maybe a visit is the first step by the attendance officer.....Moral of the story is if your child is off school for any reason.....ring them!!

I know I am rambelling on but working on the 'school' side it really stops alot of paperwork!!

 

[natalielongstaff]

its a great idea imo ! last year a mother i know took her dd out of school twice to go shopping her excuse----- she works at the weekends

 

[carolfoy]

its a great idea imo ! last year a mother i know took her dd out of school twice to go shopping her excuse----- she works at the weekends

ITA Natalie, I know people who take their kids out of school just to use up the two weeks leniency period we have, they just take them shopping or to a relatives for visiting or something. I'm guilty of taking Callum out of school for the two weeks leniency because we have so many holidays I can't fit them in around school!!! I mean, I couldn't bear to go to FL in August or Easter so we take a week either side of October half term (unless like this year we were too late to book) although this year we took him out of school for 2 weeks in Nov, and he's got another week off in April at the end of easter hols due to our tour then not getting back early enough. His head teacher was fine about it as his work is well up to speed and he's never off ill but I still feel guilty about it.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

Last May my DH and I had just collected our DD from Nursery (at 11.30) and were in the local hardware shop looking for some weedkiller (not important I know!). Suddenly a Policeman appeared at the door of the shop and asked me to 'step outside' a minute. DH and i exchanged a look and did as asked. Outsdie were two ladies from the truancy dept. The ploiceman then said - why isn't your child in school (in a fairly agressive tone I have to say!) to which a replyed - We've just collected her from Nursery as she's only 4! He then asked if I had any proof of this (by this time I was furious!) so I grabbed my daughter and pointed out the words A...... P... Nursery School on her sweatshirt. The two ladies were very apologetic but the policeman just said "Humph, well she' very TALL!" It almost sounded as though it was HER fault she was tall for her age................................

I'm glad someone is doing something about the truancy problem but considering this incident happened just TWO days after a gang of yobs skiving school set fire to the local Cycle Speedway Clubhouse and destroyed it, I did wonder whether there's a need to get prioritits right sometimes!!!!!!

 

[gilld]

I'm glad someone is doing something about the truancy problem but considering this incident happened just TWO days after a gang of yobs skiving school set fire to the local Cycle Speedway Clubhouse and destroyed it, I did wonder whether there's a need to get prioritits right sometimes!!!!!!

Isn't it because of incidents like this, that the Authorities are trying to do something?

 

[natalielongstaff]

ITA Natalie, I know people who take their kids out of school just to use up the two weeks leniency period we have, they just take them shopping or to a relatives for visiting or something. I'm guilty of taking Callum out of school for the two weeks leniency because we have so many holidays I can't fit them in around school!!! I mean, I couldn't bear to go to FL in August or Easter so we take a week either side of October half term (unless like this year we were too late to book) although this year we took him out of school for 2 weeks in Nov, and he's got another week off in April at the end of easter hols due to our tour then not getting back early enough. His head teacher was fine about it as his work is well up to speed and he's never off ill but I still feel guilty about it.

i take my two out of school for holidays as well
sometimes its just unavoidable, also as you say we never seem to be off sick either

 

[carolfoy]

I used to totally disagree with taking them out of school for holidays but when Callum broke his leg very badly the school were so unsupportive!! he was only allowed to go in if my mum or dad were around to go to the school to help him when he needed the loo!! I work 14 miles away so it was impossible for me but it meant my mum and dad taking turns at 'school sitting' they are well within 2 miles of the school but traffic can mean it can sometimes be a 15 minute drive, if they had things to do then it would mean Callum couldn't attend school that day as there'd be no loo help for him. So after that I just thought 'sod it' and now have no qualms about taking him out.

 

[FizzyPop]

Carol that is absolutly disgusting Dont get me started on schools that dont support you My daughter has learning difficulties and doesn't use her right arm and leg that well (she had a stroke) I decided to put her in a main stream school as I wanted her to be treated just like anyone else. Well one year on and they didn't want to know, they wanted her out of the school as they said she was hard work But what really annoys me is that they will keep the children that are physical and verbally abusive to the teachers and pupils in the school This sort of thing really makes me mad.

She now goes to a special school for children with disabilities which she really loves and is getting on really well. And like you I take my children out for our holiday

 

[Queenie]

I was suprised how many school aged children were around Brighton town centre yesterday, I assumed they'd broken up for Xmas - maybe not?

I remember me and my friends getting "caught" by the truant officer but our school was off that day so we weren't doing anything wrong!! I went to a private secondary school and each Feb we'd have entrance day when the next year's intake went in for the day to take the entrance exams, we liked it as we got the day off. We'd all gone bowling for the day and a police man came over and asked us why we weren;t in school. We explained why and gave him our names and the school name. We saw him go and make a call and then look really annoyed as he'd obviously been told that we were telling the truth. He seemed unhappy that he had to let us go!!

 

[Claire L]

I was suprised how many school aged children were around Brighton town centre yesterday, I assumed they'd broken up for Xmas - maybe not?

East Sussex and Brighton schools broke up last Friday so have had the full week off school.

Claire

 

[Cyrano]

I used to totally disagree with taking them out of school for holidays but when Callum broke his leg very badly the school were so unsupportive!! he was only allowed to go in if my mum or dad were around to go to the school to help him when he needed the loo!! I work 14 miles away so it was impossible for me but it meant my mum and dad taking turns at 'school sitting' they are well within 2 miles of the school but traffic can mean it can sometimes be a 15 minute drive, if they had things to do then it would mean Callum couldn't attend school that day as there'd be no loo help for him. So after that I just thought 'sod it' and now have no qualms about taking him out.

So much for inclusion. Making sure that no one is disadvantaged.
I really hope that is due to staff shortages rather than standard

 

[WDWfan uk]

I think there are three separate issues here - firstly, the 'truancy police' are looking for children who are taking unauthorised absence.

Taking children out of school for holidays is a separate issue, assuming that the school have been informed then this is authorised absence.

The third issue is whether the school will accommodate children who are incapacitated for a broken limb etc. - and it does seem that the educational authorities are pretty strict about someone being available (other than the teachers) to assist your child - this does need looking at for sure.

The OP's original point about truancy police and UNauthorised absence - it is a shame that it has come to this that we need people to ensure that children are in school when they are supposed to be, it is also a shame that innocent parents and children are stopped and questioned, but it has become necessary to do this and extra resources have had to be spent on this, because of too many incidents where truants have been commiting crimes such as arson, shop-lifting, mugging etc.

Innocent people are stopped and questioned in lots of scenarios, and yes it doesn't feel good when it's you and you know you are innocent, but surely we have to accept it - just like we do being searched and our luggage being searched at airports as a preventative measure.

 

[Kernow_Clan]

Having read all of the above, I feel that there is a fudamental shift in our country away from innocent until proven guilty to the exact reverse.

This worries me, as much as the fact the we seem to be rolling over and accepting it.

I was a "serial truant" at secondary school, mainly during the 3rd year. Looking back it was for many reasons, mostly though was the fact that I rarely felt challenged whilst in lessons and became bored. One legacy of that is that I will not take "sick days" unless I have no other choice. I have taken 5 days sick in the last 5 years since leaving the Army, and they were in November this year ( probably more the Army work ethic than a personal character shift)

Perhaps if we had a national curriculum that made children want to be at school by teaching them subjects and skills in an interesting and meaningful way, there would be less truancy. This may be simplistic, but surely there is a straight forward solution, rather than over-complicating the situation [the typical government response.]