Just under half of all students caught Christmas shopping when they should have been in school were found in south Somerset.
Education attendance officers stopped 88 children across the county - 43 in south Somerset - in shopping malls and high streets two weeks before Christmas. Most of them were with their parents.
The students were spoken to by Somerset County Council officers who were helped by Avon and Somerset Police.
More than a quarter of students stopped in south Somerset did not have a valid reason for not being in class.
County council cabinet member Frances Nicholson said: "The council will make every effort to work with the small number of families with children not turning up for school to turn this round. However, where things don't improve, we will take further action.
"As I have said in the past, if our children are to get the education and qualifications they need to compete in the job market or go on to higher education, they need to turn up for school."
Parents of children found out of school without a valid reason can face court action, a penalty of £60 or £120, or close monitoring of their child's attendance.
Forty seven students had valid reasons for not being in school, which included authorised absence for medical appointments, waiting for admission to a school or appealing against an admission refusal.
Fifteen claimed to be home educated. There were also some children on authorised holidays in Somerset.
Education attendance officers stopped 88 children across the county - 43 in south Somerset - in shopping malls and high streets two weeks before Christmas. Most of them were with their parents.
The students were spoken to by Somerset County Council officers who were helped by Avon and Somerset Police.
More than a quarter of students stopped in south Somerset did not have a valid reason for not being in class.
County council cabinet member Frances Nicholson said: "The council will make every effort to work with the small number of families with children not turning up for school to turn this round. However, where things don't improve, we will take further action.
"As I have said in the past, if our children are to get the education and qualifications they need to compete in the job market or go on to higher education, they need to turn up for school."
Parents of children found out of school without a valid reason can face court action, a penalty of £60 or £120, or close monitoring of their child's attendance.
Forty seven students had valid reasons for not being in school, which included authorised absence for medical appointments, waiting for admission to a school or appealing against an admission refusal.
Fifteen claimed to be home educated. There were also some children on authorised holidays in Somerset.