Parents who let their children skip school could be fined up to £100 and jailed if they refuse to pay.

The new powers mean local education authorities (LEAs) can demand the money if children persistently play truant or parents take their children out of school on holiday without permission.

The measures have been tested by a small group of LEAs. The Department for Education says the trials have been so successful it is urging other authorities to follow.

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove LEA said: "We will be studying the new provisions with headteachers, education welfare officers and other interested parties to draw up a local protocol, setting out whether or not the penalty charge system will be introduced in Brighton and Hove schools."

Headteachers' unions have warned fining parents of persistent truants could make them even less co-operative.

There are also concerns about the effectiveness of prosecuting parents.

Single mother Nicola Dunk, of Bristol Gardens, Brighton, was given a two-month jail sentence after her son Andrew, now 16, failed to turn up to a single lesson during the 2003/4 academic year.

Judge Guy Anthony reduced the sentence to six weeks, saying it was difficult to enforce the attendance of a 15-year-old boy, bigger and stronger than his mother, who did not want to go to school.

A couple from Newhaven jailed for 14 days for not ensuring their son's attendance said they wanted him to go to school but were not prepared to let him be harmed by bullies.

Brighton and Hove LEA say more than 50 extra staff were being employed in schools on deprived housing estates in Brighton to tackle truancy and poor education standards.

The £1.2 million Pupil Potential project is being paid for by the government organisation eb4u, which is working to regenerate east Brighton.

A spokesman for the department for Education said all authorities were expected to be using the new powers by the end of the year.