Stage set to tackle truancy

Parents with children who frequently bunk off school in Oldham will get extra help to control their wayward offsprings.

Intensive work and even specialist theatre productions will be tried to help to cut Oldham’s persistent absentee rate and numbers of permanent exclusions.

Two new parent support advisers will work with families where children miss over a third of their schooling or are at risk of being permanently excluded.

Each one will work with at least 25 parents of eight to 13-year-olds in a school year, funded by a £55,500 Government grant until 2011.

The scheme starts with a consultation exercise in spring next year, when five theatre workshops will work with groups of around 12 parents at each performance.

According to Michelle Vaughan, author of the council’s report into the problem, they will help to gather parents’ views on why their children do not go to school regularly, and what support parents need.

School attendance officers already work with families where children miss around a fifth of their schooling, but the new support advisers will work more intensely with most at risk pupils.

The report adds: “Parent support adviser work has already been piloted in the school attendance service and it has already seen attendance improve in referred cases, in addition to positive outcomes for parents such as increased self-confidence, referral to other agencies and participation in education, training or employment.”