PLANS to cut child benefit from the parents of persistent truants were today dismissed in York and North Yorkshire for targeting the problem in the wrong way.

Tony Blair is considering taking the step to make parents face up to their responsibilities, but the idea has already run into opposition, with rival politicians describing it as a gimmick in the run-up to local elections.

Ken Bateman, negotiating secretary for the NASUWT teaching union in York, said: "We would welcome Government paying attention to these children who are out of control.

"Whether this would work is very doubtful, particularly when you consider a lot of these children are coming from homes with low incomes anyway.

"I think you need to get there earlier. It is the early years help that the Government needs to concentrate on, helping families with young children. I think that is where the benefit comes."

Anne Myers, press officer for the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in North Yorkshire, said: "These families usually need the money for their children. No matter what we might think about whether they're bringing children up in the way we would want, I don't think the children deserve to be penalised.

"This benefit is not for buying extras, it's for buying the basics children need. Parents need a lot of support to get their children into school and to keep them there. This is all the wrong way round."

Chris Nicholson is head teacher of the Pupil Support Centre in Acomb, York, which educates children who are excluded from mainstream schools, or in danger of being excluded because of behaviour.

All either go back into school or are helped through GCSE courses or put on work-related courses.

He said: "I think this sounds like shutting the door after the horse has bolted. I think earlier intervention would be better, before things start tailing off; getting more input in for young people in the early years of secondary school, not waiting until they've reached crisis point and have got involved in crime.

"I think the education system does have to take some responsibility for not always putting together appropriate educational packages for students. If they are not appropriate, they can get bored, bunk off and can get into trouble. The money might be better spent looking at this sort of thing - motivating young people rather than disaffecting them."

Updated: 11:39 Tuesday, April 30, 2002