TRUANCY rates are continuing to fall across St Helens, bucking a national trend of increased absenteeism.

Although the borough is still above the national average of 6.45 per cent at 6.83 per cent, the truancy trend across St Helens is seeing a gradual year-by-year decrease.

Councillor Terry Shields, executive member for young people's services at the council, said that the council's initiatives to raise awareness about the need to attend school were 'paying dividends'.

He said: "Over the past few years we have seen truancy rates gradually fall, which is tremendous news when you look at what is happening nationally."

These initiatives to tackle truancy include regular truancy sweeps with the police, a 'school attendance matters' project that raises awareness of the importance of school attendance and rewards good attendance in primary schools, and encouraging parents to monitor their child's attendance.