BARNSLEY Council has been cracking down on parents whose children have not been regularly attending school - and they’re now focusing on early prevention methods.

A number of parents have been at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court over recent months due to their children’s poor attendance records.

It’s something the council have done in a bid to improve pupils’ attendances - and the latest figures show that it’s working.

There has been a 6.2 per cent increase in secondary school attendance during the latest three-month period.

A report states: “It is important to note that the quarter two data is for September 2024 only.

“Six of our 11 secondary schools sit above the latest published national figure.

“The service continues to focus on strengthening practice.”

But council bosses say they will only take parents to court as a last resort.

Coun Trevor Cave, cabinet spokesperson for children’s services, said: “Children and young people developing the right skills and qualifications for better education, employment, and training is important to families, and to us.

“Regular school attendance from an early age plays a crucial role in this, and there is a strong connection between regular attendance and achieving good results.

“In partnership with local authorities, the Department for Education developed guidance for working together to improve school attendance, which became statutory in September 2024.

“This guidance, and the work that we do, focuses on providing early support to improve attendance.

“We’ll only consider the use of legal intervention when this support has not resulted in sustained improvement.

“We work together with our partners through the Barnsley Schools Alliance to highlight the importance of regular school attendance, and to reduce the number of children who regularly miss school. We will continue to work with our partners in schools to make sure attendance is a high priority and that the right support is offered so every child can reach their full potential.”