A parent is jailed every other week during term time for failing to prevent their child’s truancy, and there has been a substantial rise in the number made to sign parenting contracts promising to make their child go to school, official figures show.

In the past year, the number of parenting contracts – statements signed by parents agreeing to bring their child to school – has gone up by 41% to 6,861. The number of court-issued penalty notices went up by 12% to 7,793 last year.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families said that part of the rise was due to a crackdown on parents taking their child out of school during term time to go on holiday.

[Lire la suite…->http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/feb/12/truancy-parents-jail]