Fines up in city's truancy fight

One headteacher says communication is key to good attendance

The number of fixed penalty notices issued to parents for keeping their children off school has shot up in Bristol.

In 2006/07 they were at 121, they rose to 171 in the following 12 months and then to 287 in the 2008/09 academic year.

What's to blame for the increase? Bristol City Council says the reason is a tightening in the criteria for issuing the notices.

Parents can now be fined if there is between eight and twenty days absence in a 10 week period.

But Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, the cabinet member for children and young people, said there is "a lot that goes on" before fines are dished out.

Ultimately the child has to come first and their education is what we're about Headteacher Rachel Thomas

"Educational workers will visit the schools and also the family so there's a lot of work that goes on and, of course, with any child you have to find out the individual reasons why attendance is poor."

One school bucking the trend is Filton Avenue Junior School in Horfield.

Headteacher Rachel Thomas is in charge of a school which is very close to reaching 94% attendance target.

She told BBC Bristol that compromise and communication is key to ensuring children attend school.

"I think it's a bit of give-and-take and we do have a process where parents can negotiate with us, discuss with us, a form that they can fill in if it's a particular circumstance.

"So we do try and encourage parents to have a dialogue with us beforehand so that if there are circumstances that we need to know about we can discuss them.

Star pupil

"However, ultimately the child has to come first and their education is what we're about."

But, Mrs Thomas does have a star pupil at her school who has never missed a single day during his education life.

Jake Winter, who is in year six, wants to follow in the footsteps of current Wing Commander Jas Hawker - the Red Arrow's squadron leader who comes from Thornbury.

Jake has a few simple tips for making sure you stay in the classroom rather than in bed ill.

"What I try and do it get all my sicknesses in the weekends or in holidays so I don't bring it into school.

"I stay away from people who have colds or a family that have illnesses."

"In my packed lunch I have two portions of fruit and a balanced diet."

Jake, though, says he would not want to miss a day at school and hopes he's on target for the record books.

"It would be quite disappointing to be off school because I'm going to miss my friends too because I'd break my long attendance record.

"I want to set a world record so I'm going to look that up soon!"