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The causes, views and traits of school absenteeism and truancy 59 The causes, views and traits of school absenteeism and truancy An analytical review Ken Reid Swansea Institute of Higher Education T he purpose of this article is to focus on a review of recent research into school absenteeism and truancy. The specific aim is to provide detailed information which should be particularly helpful for teachers and staff in schools to use, along with a range of caring professionals such as education welfare officers, learning mentors, home school liaison officers and educational researchers. Consequently, this review is limited to a consideration of: definitional issues; the causes of truancy and non-attendance; out-of-school provision; the Office for Standards in Education (OfStEd) position; the role of parents; the link between truancy and crime; current trends and the Children Act 2004. Definitional issues One of the key issues when considering 'school absenteeism' and 'truancy' is to understand correctly the meaning and definition of the terms. This is not quite as simple as it sounds. There are various types of school absenteeism. They include specific lesson absence, post-registration absence, parentally condoned absence, psychological absence, school refusal and school phobia. This is where the 'problem' begins. For some, specific lesson absence, postregistration absence and parentally condoned absence are not truancy. For others they are, and are often retitled specific lesson truancy, post-registration truancy and parentally condoned truancy. For some, 'absent without good reason' can be equated with truancy. For others, having a reason for the absence-for example, being a parentally condoned absentee-means by definition that this form of behaviour is not truancy (Reid, 1999). An Office for Standards in Education report (OfStEd, 2001) indicates that truancy should not be synonymous with unauthorised absence, as some authorised absences can result from the school's refusal to authorise excessive absences for holidays taken during term time without the prior consent of the school. Due to these definitional problems, most authors using the term 'truancy' provide situation-specific definitions, as the generic terms often means different things to different people.

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