Parents of truants bribed with free curry

The parents of truanting children are being "bribed" to stop them skipping lessons with the promise of a free curry.

Truancy rates have dropped by half since the scheme was launched, offering parents the chance to win a meal worth £40 if their children miss fewer than 5 per cent of their classes.

But teaching unions have reacted angrily, saying parents who do not send their children to school should be jailed.

The scheme was launched at Glenfield Infant School, in Southampton, Hants, after attendance figures fell below Ofsted standards.

Head teacher Joanne Dorricott, who came up with the idea, said: "We are delighted with the way it's going because the number of persistent absentee children has decreased by more than half.

"We don't want parents to think they are no good at getting their children to school, but we need to embed how important it is to get children to school at this age. Otherwise we have lost them."

But teaching union NASUWT claimed the offer is tantamount to bribery.

Union executive member Ron Clooney said: "It is a legal requirement to bring your children to school. But this gives out the message that you don't do anything in life unless there is a reward.

"If a parent doesn't send their child to school they should get a prison sentence not a curry. It's bribery, totally inappropriate and bordering on lunacy."

The school is holding one prize draw a term for the families of children with good attendance rates, with the winners getting £40 to spend at an Indian restaurant in Southampton.

The cost of the meal is being covered by the restaurant, POSH, with no money being taken from the school budget to fund the scheme.