THERE has been a fall in the number of children who are missing large sections of their education in Swindon.

New Government figures show that in the last academic year, just over 1,000 pupils missed 38 sessions of school, amounting to 3.8 per cent of the total pupils.

This is down from 1,159 in the previous academic year, equal to 4.4 per cent.

The figures cover state primary and secondary schools for both the autumn and spring terms.

The numbers put Swindon below the average for absenteeism, which stands at 4.4 per cent, meaning 35.7 million of lost school days each year.

In total there are 27,000 pupils in Swindon covered by the data, with the bulk of the absentees found in secondary schools.

Of the 11,500 secondary school pupils, the absentee rate was 5.6 per cent, compared with 2.4 per cent at primary level.

Swindon Borough Council welcomed the figures but said it was still committed to reducing the overall figure and that action is taken to combat the problem.

Often, this involves working with families, which have one or more children who are long-term absentees.

A spokesman said: “Although our persistent absence rate continues to be below the national average, we are continually working on improving attendance levels in all our schools.

“Our Education Welfare team and the Children Missing Education Officer take various actions when continued unauthorised absence is reported to us.

“This can include liaising with other agencies involved with the family, making home visits and identifying a lead professional who will offer support to the family.

“We also carry out truancy patrols as well as contacting other local authorities to see if a child has moved out of Swindon, contacting health professionals to verify if a child is sick and, if necessary, taking legal action against parents for unauthorised absence.”

Unauthorised absenteeism has become a hotly debated issue in recent months, with many parents saying they are forced to take children on holidays during term time because of the high prices.

This has led to calls for action to be taken in an attempt to lower prices.

Swindon North MP Justin Tomlinson has raised the issue in Parliament.

Speaking earlier this year he said: “In Germany holidays are spread over a longer period for different regions which is what I would like to see here.

“So, for example, all of the south west goes on holiday and then the Midlands takes a different time.

“This would benefit parents because everyone would not be going on holiday at the same time and the travel industry would be in favour so business isn’t confined to a six-week period.”