Prime Minister Tony Blair has backed the war on truancy in Basildon schools.
In an exclusive interview with the Echo at No 10 Downing Street, Mr Blair vowed to reduce the number of young people skipping school.
He said: "I realise there is a problem with truancy in Basildon. Parents whose children are not attending school can now be liable - it is their parental responsibility and action will be taken if their children are missing out on education.
"It is out priority to get these children back into school and focus on helping the schools cope."
James Hornsby School in Laindon has an appalling truancy record with the worst rates under Essex County Council control and one of the worst in the country.
Read all about it - the Prime Minister looks at the Echo's coverage of the truancy problem
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