More than 500 primary school children are "persistently absent" from Haringey schools and missing more than a fifth of their lessons.

And the number is rising. Government figures released last week reveal an increasing number of younger pupils are skipping more classes this year than last, up from 2.3 of children to 3.1 per cent.

To be classed as persistently absent, children have to miss more than 48 half days - which is more than a month of classes every year. The figures include truancy, absence with permission, and illness.

Abseentism among the borough's teenagers is falling, but In secondary schools the figure is already significantly higher, with 6.3 per cent or one in fifteen students persistently missing the equivalent of a day in school every week.

These most recent figures, which relate to the Autumn term 2007 and the Spring term 2008, have been praised by the Department for Families, Education and Schools, the DCSF.

A Haringey Council spokesman said: "During that period primary schools nationally as well as in Haringey reported increased sickness, particularly in the winter, but also at other times.

"Also, some religious holidays this year were during weekdays and the unusual Easter break involved different holidays dates for different boroughs and schools. This may have resulted in some parents with children at different schools taking holidays during one child’s term time."

MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Lynne Featherstone said: "This is equivalent to two children truanting per class - this is two children too many. It is time for the council to buck up its ideas and use all powers necessary to ensure that the next generation of children are not lost to absenteeism and educational underachievement."

A Haringey Council spokesman added: "Recent focus by DCSF and local authorities has been on efforts to reduce persistent absence. The number of secondary pupils designated as persistent absentees nationally was 6.4%.

"By comparison for Haringey secondary schools this was lower at 6.3% - and reflects the hard work done by schools, parents, and a variety of agencies to improve school attendance and the life chances of young people in Haringey schools."

Children’s minister Baroness Morgan said: “The fact is that weak excuses no longer wash with schools. Overall absence is going down because schools are taking on the persistent absentees.

“Parents are getting the message that every lesson counts and unauthorised absences are now being rigorously queried rather than simply overlooked,” she added.