ALMOST 400 pupils missed nearly half their education during the autumn term in Suffolk last year, latest figures reveal.Children skipped the equivalent of nearly 52,952 school days in the county due to unauthorised absence during the term.

ALMOST 400 pupils missed nearly half their education during the autumn term in Suffolk last year, latest figures reveal.

Children skipped the equivalent of nearly 52,952 school days in the county due to unauthorised absence during the term.

Meanwhile, some 396 pupils missed 31.5 days - almost half the term - through truancy, sickness and other reasons (0.5per cent of total pupil enrolment).

The proportion of all school sessions that were missed through “unauthorised absence”, which includes truancy, was 0.91pc in Suffolk - below the national average of 0.93pc.

The figures, released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, includes both primary and secondary school absences.

Patricia O'Brien, portfolio holder for children, schools and young people's services said: “Suffolk County Council is committed to improving attendance and tackling truancy. We know good attendance is strongly linked to good attainment and achievement.

“Even though the vast majority of parents in Suffolk ensure that their children attend school regularly, there are still some that don't.

“We carry out regular 'Truancy Sweeps' in towns throughout Suffolk, and these show that over the last year more than 60pc of the children stopped were with their parents.

“We hope that truancy sweeps, and items in the media like this will encourage parents to take their responsibilities seriously.”

Nationally, more than 40,000 pupils missed nearly half their education during the autumn term last year as truancy rates rose.

Children missed the equivalent of nearly 4.2 million school days, with almost 60,000 primary and secondary school pupils absent without permission every day.