Weston-super-Mare school truancy campaign

A new campaign to cut rates of truancy among pupils is being launched in Weston-super-Mare next week.

The South Ward Neighbourhood Police Team and North Somerset Council's Behavioural Improvement Programme are launching Miss Out Mess Up.

It focuses on the south ward area of Weston, which includes the Bournville and Oldmixon estates, with the aim of raising expectations of children.

Six schools will be targeted through the campaign; Bournville, Oldmixon, Walliscote and Windwhistle primaries, Wyvern Community School and Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College.

The campaign seeks to raise attendance at school, lower rates of offending and anti-social behaviour, promote personal safety and lower rates of teenage pregnancy and substance abuse.

Police officers, PCSOs and North Somerset Council staff will be outside the schools on November 3 for the launch, giving out goody bags to youngsters.

The project is the brainchild of Police Community Support Officer Claire Sketchley and Paula Le-Milliere-Tinney.

Miss Sketchley said: "Anti-social behaviour has been identified by our community as one of their priorities, and we've taken steps to do something about this problem.

"We're not suggesting that all young people will be up to no good if they're not in school, however school does provide a safe and stable environment for children to make friends, learn and develop as people."

Miss Le-Milliere-Tinney, who works on the Behaviour Improvement Programme, says that the campaign is about making a positive difference.

She said: "We want our young people to achieve the very best they can, so they lead fulfilling lives and also contribute to their communities."

A high-visibility poster campaign will encourage businesses to support the initiative by displaying stickers and refusing to serve school-age children between 8.45am to 3pm on school days.

South Ward Sergeant Shane Hawkings said: "Research has shown that children with poor or erratic attendance are more likely to be in trouble with the police and offend.

"There are also higher rates of teenage pregnancy and substance abuse amongst those who truant.

"It is our over-riding aim to promote a community response and a sense of responsibility in Weston South that will raise expectations and aspirations.

"In doing so we hope to achieve better outcomes for vulnerable young people."

The project will initially run for a three-month period to allow for in-depth evaluation, but there is interest in rolling it out to other areas in the district.