Crime & work/school
Truancy sweep effective advice and control
This document gives advice to local authorities and others involved in the preparation and conduct of truancy sweeps. It replaces DfES guidance 'Guidance for Truancy Sweeps' issued in September 2002 and the Home Office guidance 'Police Power to Remove Truants' issued in 1998. It is non-statutory and applies to England only.
Title: Truancy sweep effective advice and control
Author: Department for Education & Skills (DfES)
Number of pages: 13
Date published: July 2005
Availability:
Download truancy sweep guidance document
Word 1.45Mb
Failing to attend school regularly can have a major impact on children's education, their future and their life chances. Data from 2004 shows a strong link between absence levels in schools and their pupils' attainment. For example:
88% of pupils gain 5 or more good GCSE grades at schools with average absence of 8 days or fewer per pupil. But only 26% at schools with average absence of more than 20 days per pupil; and
86% of pupils reach Key Stage 2 Level 4 Maths in schools where pupils average fewer than 8 days absence a year but this drops to 57% in schools where average absence is more than 15 days.
The 2004 Youth Crime Survey showed that 45% of young people in mainstream education who have committed an offence say they have played truant from school, compared with just 18% who have not committed an offence. It also showed that 62% of 10-16 year olds who have committed criminal or anti-social behaviour have also truanted.
Truancy sweeps aim to tackle non-attendance. They are one of a range of approaches that feature in local authority and police service programmes to deal with the issues associated with truancy. Others include direct support to pupils and their families and sanctioning parents who fail to take their responsibilities seriously.
Truancy sweeps are carried out during normal school hours. They involve stopping any young person believed to be of school age, whether accompanied by an adult or not. The intention is to establish whether or not the young person is registered at school and, if so, whether he/she is out of school legitimately. If the authenticity of the absence is in doubt the education welfare officer (EWO) will follow up each case individually to substantiate the reasons given for the absence.
Truancy sweeps can be useful in identifying children with attendance problems. Each young person picked up by a sweep should be provided with appropriate support to make sure that any problems are resolved.
Sweeps can help to identify parents who are not taking their child's attendance seriously. If such a family is identified, the EWO may ask the school to ensure they challenge that child's absences where a good explanation has not been provided.
Truancy sweeps do not aim to identify children and families affected by other issues such as housing problems or domestic difficulties. However, those carrying out the sweeps should be aware that they could encounter such issues and should be ready to make the appropriate response.
This guidance document outlines:
the law surrounding truancy, including parents' and children's responsibilities and police powers
the roles and responsibilities of local authorities, the police, DfES, and EWOs
how to plan a truancy sweep
exchanging information
designated premises and their use
follow-up actions
children not registered at school - those educated outside the school system, those without a school place and those missing from the education system
pupils legitimately out of school
'out-of-area' pupils, ie those not normally educated within the location
refusal to comply
publicity
Getting a copy
Download Truancy sweep effective advice and control
Word 1.45Mb, from the DfES
School Attendance website
Last update: 08 September 2005