CHILDREN playing truant from schools are being returned to their classrooms in a new crackdown in Worcester.

Eight youngsters were caught in a sweep of the city centre, yesterday, by teams of officers from Worcestershire's Local Education Directorate.

Education welfare officers are expected to team up with police in the coming weeks to launch a joint initiative.

"I'd say this is fairly good news inasmuch as it confirms Worcester isn't a haven for truants and we seem to have the problem under control," said Tim Scott, head of education welfare at Worcestershire's Local Education Directorate.

"Truancy has now fallen for the third year in a row.

"While our overall attendance is higher than the national average, we're not complacent about the effect truancy has on the achievement of a minority of pupils in the county.

"Schools have an overall aim to educate every individual, with care, for success.

"We're not able to fulfil this aim for young people who aren't in school when they should be.

"We're always prepared to work hard with parents and other agencies to provide the very best education."

Schools were expected to inform parents of a child's truancy and some parents may receive a visit from an education welfare officer.

"The sweep spells out an important message," said Allan Foulds, headteacher at Christopher Whitehead High School, in St John's.

"We're concerned about the importance of attendance and this message has a good effect.

"The problem with truancy isn't just the proportion of lessons missed, it's also the catch-up time.

"We have an education welfare officer working at the school on a daily basis, and that's a help.

"Our truancy rate is consistent with the national comparative data, and we're working hard with parents.

"Anything that will help reduce these figures is very important as there's a direct link between attendance and achievement."