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Truancy Patrols to end...

National Truancy Patrols dates are to end, local authorities to decide as and when to run them in the future...

Dear Truancy Sweep Contact

Firstly I would like to thank those Local Authorities (LAs) that participated in the Autumn 06 national truancy sweeps and who submitted their data to the Department. The analysis of the data will be published on the School Attendance website in the near future. I would also like to thank all the LAs who have participated in national truancy sweeps and submitted their data to the Department over the past five years and to those LAs who have allowed officials from the Department to accompany them on truancy sweeps, this has been most beneficial as it allows us to see what life is like on the ground.

An article has been placed in the Department's LA email (please see below) informing LAs of the Department's decision to cease coordinating national truancy sweeps. This decision was made after careful consideration, taking into account the fact that LAs are now well established in organising and carrying out their own truancy sweeps and many do this on a daily/weekly basis, planning them in conjunction with the police at times that suit both parties. As mentioned in the article below truancy sweeps do raise the awareness of school attendance and therefore, we will be looking to LAs to continue their good work and carry out truancy sweeps throughout the year.

We will be updating our effective practice document 'Truancy Sweep Effective Practice and Advice' both in April 07 and September 07 to incorporate the new powers for Community Police Support Officers to take part in truancy sweeps, this comes into force in April and in September the power to remove excluded pupils as well as truants will also take effect. We will notify LAs of the updated document when it is available.

'The DfES have coordinated bi-annual truancy sweeps since May 2002. We know that the majority of Local authorities (LAs) are well established in running truancy sweeps throughout the year, planning in advance with the police, agreeing dates that are suitable to both the Education Welfare Service and the police. We are also aware that some LAs do experience difficulties in obtaining police participation during the Department s three week allotted period due to police priorities. After careful consideration the Department has decided to cease coordinating and collecting data for national truancy sweeps.

DFES

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