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Annette Jones, of Aberdare, was warned last year by Rhondda Cynon Taff Council that she may face prosecution over her son, Darien's, truancy. Darien, 15, has special needs which his family claims aren't being met at school.

Annette tells tonight's programme, "It's been hard. You get worn out...you feel as if you're not worth anything because you can't help them. It's emotionally and physically draining; you just don't know what to do for the best."

RCT say there are no legal proceedings pending against Annette, and that they are aware of Darien's special needs and are doing all they can to support the family. Lawyers for Mrs Jones are now hopeful of finding a special school place for Darien.

Professor Ken Reid, an expert on truancy, tells the programme of his fears that a report he authored on behaviour and attendance, commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government four years ago, has been sidelined amid concerns about public spending cuts.

Prof Reid, former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Swansea Metropolitan University, questions the outcome of the National Behaviour and Attendance Review (NBAR), which he chaired from 2006 to 2008.

His findings and recommendations received cross-party support and led to the Welsh Assembly Government announcing a raft of measures in Spring 2009, focusing on earlier intervention, better training and improving literacy to prevent younger children becoming disaffected by school.

But a year on, while there has been consultation and meetings of an implementation group, Prof Reid says there is "frustration" among professionals about its outcome.

"We have now secondary schools in Wales where one in four pupils are missing school on a daily basis; even primary schools where 80 to 85 per cent is the normal daily attendance. I think the primary school figures are starting to get worrying," he said.

"I think there are some pressing needs. Unlike their counterparts in England, staff in Wales do not receive regular training on managing pupils' behaviour and attendance.

"The former minister, Jane Hutt, promised a million pounds for this initiative, and teachers particularly, and other professionals, are continually asking about when these initiatives are going to take place. There's a lot of professional frustration about this."

The Welsh Assembly Government says the recommendations on training in Prof Reid's report "remain a priority" for them and that behaviour and attendance issues are an integral part of its major education initiatives.

The programme also hears from a mother who was prosecuted five times over her teenage daughter's truancy and meets education welfare officer Tom Noakes, whose job it is to engage with young truants and their families in Cardiff to encourage them back into school.

And we visit Newton Primary School in Porthcawl, which is joining forces with other primaries and comprehensives in Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan to combat truancy among younger pupils.