A Uttoxeter mum has been hauled before the courts as punishment for her truant son consistently bunking off school. The child, who cannot not be identified for legal reasons, regularly failed to turn up to lessons between March 3 and July 21.
And Staffordshire County Council saw fit to make the boy’s mum answer for his absence by pursuing legal action against her.
Council solicitor Khalid Mahmood told North Staffordshire Justice Centre she had not consistently engaged with his authority’s efforts to help improve her son’s attendance.
Magistrates decided to punish the mum, who did not turn up to her hearing at the Newcastle under Lyme court house, with fines and legal costs totalling £609. However, many parents may not realise punishments for those whose kids play truant can be far more severe.
The maximum legal penalty for their children persistently failing to attend school is three months in jail or a £2,500 fine.
Mr Mahmood told the court: "Education is important in the long and short-term future of the child and prosecution is a last resort.
"There are defences for absence, including not living within walking distance of the school, religious reasons or parents being of no fixed abode, none of them apply here.
"Educational support had been provided to the family following previous problems with truancy and the mother’s engagement with us has been sporadic.
"There have been home visits and school visits scheduled, as well as contact from the family’s social housing organisation."
To deal with truancy, councils can implement parenting orders, which see mums and dads forced to attend "parenting classes".
Penalty charge notices of up to £60, which double if not paid in 21 days, can also be enforced.
Philip White, cabinet support member for learning and employability at Staffordshire County Council, outlined the education authority’s policy to take action "to get children back into the classroom".
He said: "Our number one priority is to make sure that all our school pupils get the best education possible and regular attendance at school is essential to achieve this.
"We work closely with schools and provide support for parents to make sure children are attending and when we do this we usually see an improvement in attendance.
"Most parents do appreciate the importance of regular attendance at school and do encourage their children to go.
"However, when this isn’t the case we will take the necessary action to get children back into the classroom, which can include a fine."
Before the hearing, magistrates enforced a court order dictating the defendant could not be named as this would lead to the identification of her child.
They made the order, which also banned any mention of the truant’s age and school, on the grounds his identification could be detrimental to his welfare.
