THREE North-East schools have been voted top of the form by a Government minister, for tackling truancy.

Harrowgate Primary School, Stockton, Eden Hall Infants, Durham, and Southlands School, North Tyneside, are among 50 schools across the nation to win awards for improving pupils' attendance, often in challenging circumstances.

Harrowgate and Eden Hall schools have won praise for maintaining truancy at low levels over three years with an average of half a day missed per pupil through truancy.

The schools have improved registration procedures including registration several times a day, introduced reward systems, forged stronger links with parents and education welfare service and employed "Learning Mentors" to follow up quickly on truancy, and help get truants back to lessons.

Schools Minister Jacqui Smith said: "Through their hard work and commitment, these schools have been able to reduce truancy and improve their overall level of attendance, often under very challenging circumstance. It is extremely encouraging to see such excellent examples in action.

"I want every child to gain from the experience that learning can offer and this means that children should be in school when they are required to be so. While we need to ensure that there are measures in place to check on a child's attendance, we need to make sure that schools make learning stimulating, fulfilling and fun."

All 50 schools have received awards of £8,000 for their truancy crackdown, while parents who keep their youngsters off school are being warned they face fines of up to £2,500, and even imprisonment.

About 50,000 youngsters a day play truant from schools in Britain. The Government is spending £174m on tackling the problems over the next year