Crackdown on truancy launched

Visits are being made to parents of pupils with less than 90 per cent attendance in primary schools and 85 per cent in secondary schools.

The operation is in force until the middle of next month and, so far, 1,000 families have been visited across Doncaster.

Doncaster Council's cabinet member for children's services, Coun Andrea Milner, said: "The current operation has been offered to all of our schools and is a real targeted opportunity for us to make proactive and direct contact with local families and find out why some of children are not attending school as often as they should.

"I hope the campaign sends out a strong message that persistent absence will not be tolerated.

"Our education welfare officers are able to offer individual support and advice and we are committed to ensuring continued progress is made in this area."

Parents who do not make improvements to their child's school attendance could be issued with a fixed penalty notice or taken to court.