A scheme to cut truancy on the Isle of Wight is to be expanded to Sandown and Shanklin.
In its first year, Truancy Watch helped halve the number of children failing to turn up for lessons. Less than 10 months after its launch in Ryde in 2007, truancy numbers in the town were reduced by 66%. The scheme will take to the streets of the Bay Area on 2 September. Businesses in the town will refuse to serve school-age children during term, between 0900 and 1500 each school day, unless they are accompanied by an adult and have a good reason or a valid absence slip from their school.