ABSTRACT
Since 1996, the Labour Government has made its determination to tackle truancy, exclusion and disruptive behaviour in schools a key part of its strategy to raise standards and improve pupils’ performance in schools. The theme of this unit focuses upon the following recent initiatives aimed at tackling truancy and, to a lesser degree, social exclusion. These include:
• the concept of setting schools clear guidelines at all phases of schooling to raise standards and set clear targets for improving literacy and rates of truancy;
• the link between truancy, literacy and attainment; • the establishment of local homework clubs, with homework guidelines allied to the development of
pupils’ ICT needs; • introducing the idea of pupil panels to tackle truancy and the use of classroom assistants; • providing guidance on standards and special educational needs; • the relationship between truancy and exclusion;
• tackling social exclusion; • summer school initiatives; • second-chance schools; • first-day contact; • the inspection of LEAs; • the privatisation of failing state schools.
