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| Jail helped, say truancy couple | Jail helped, say truancy couple |
| (2 days later) | |
| Absence from school by 11 to 15 year olds in Wales has increased for the first time since 2001, according to figures from the assembly government. | Absence from school by 11 to 15 year olds in Wales has increased for the first time since 2001, according to figures from the assembly government. |
| The number of youngsters truanting, however, has fallen very slightly. | The number of youngsters truanting, however, has fallen very slightly. |
| The statistics are published as many councils signal an increasingly tough approach with parents. | The statistics are published as many councils signal an increasingly tough approach with parents. |
| A Newport couple jailed for failing to ensure their 14-year-old daughter went to school have said their prison sentence may have helped the situation. | A Newport couple jailed for failing to ensure their 14-year-old daughter went to school have said their prison sentence may have helped the situation. |
| Christopher and Deborah Haine were given four months after breaching an earlier suspended sentence. | Christopher and Deborah Haine were given four months after breaching an earlier suspended sentence. |
| They were jailed after their daughter attended school for just six out of 113 days from January until July this year. | They were jailed after their daughter attended school for just six out of 113 days from January until July this year. |
| 'End of our tether' | 'End of our tether' |
| Now, the Haines said she was now attending school regularly, and they were getting help from the authorities following their release from jail. | Now, the Haines said she was now attending school regularly, and they were getting help from the authorities following their release from jail. |
| But they insist that if they had had more help beforehand, the court case could have been avoided. | But they insist that if they had had more help beforehand, the court case could have been avoided. |
| Mr Haine told BBC Wales: "I can understand from the court's point of view [why they jailed us] because I think the courts have got to set an example to prove that they mean what they say. | Mr Haine told BBC Wales: "I can understand from the court's point of view [why they jailed us] because I think the courts have got to set an example to prove that they mean what they say. |
| "My daughter didn't go school - every child has to go to school. But it seemed the help we needed failed and collapsed. | "My daughter didn't go school - every child has to go to school. But it seemed the help we needed failed and collapsed. |
| "We tried psychiatrists, education welfare, we tried everything. We were at the end of our tether. | "We tried psychiatrists, education welfare, we tried everything. We were at the end of our tether. |
| "By this happening, in one sense it's helped. With our daughter where she is now, in care, she's got to go to school." | "By this happening, in one sense it's helped. With our daughter where she is now, in care, she's got to go to school." |
| But he added: "As a family, I think it's been broken up as a unit. | But he added: "As a family, I think it's been broken up as a unit. |
| Finding the curriculum irrelevant is one cause of truanting | Finding the curriculum irrelevant is one cause of truanting |
| "If we'd had more moral support off school, the education welfare, if they'd given us a bit more feedback... I don't think we'd have had the problem. | "If we'd had more moral support off school, the education welfare, if they'd given us a bit more feedback... I don't think we'd have had the problem. |
| "As soon as we came out of prison, everybody's willing to help us." | "As soon as we came out of prison, everybody's willing to help us." |
| The figures released on Tuesday for the school year between September 2005 and May 2006 showed total absenteeism - illness, truancy, term time holiday or other absence - had risen in Wales. | The figures released on Tuesday for the school year between September 2005 and May 2006 showed total absenteeism - illness, truancy, term time holiday or other absence - had risen in Wales. |
| Overall, teenagers in Wales were absent for 9.9% of half day sessions compared with 9.5% the previous year and to 7.9% of half day sessions in England. | Overall, teenagers in Wales were absent for 9.9% of half day sessions compared with 9.5% the previous year and to 7.9% of half day sessions in England. |
| It is the first time total absenteeism has increased in Wales since 2001. | It is the first time total absenteeism has increased in Wales since 2001. |