PARENTS who fail to ensure their children attend school regularly have been given a powerful reminder of the consequences.
Wrexham council has successfully prosecuted two mothers whose children barely attended school.
The first case saw a mother whose child was off school for
92% of the year fined £120 and ordered to pay £80 prosecution costs.
She was also given a 12-month Parenting Order and was told to work with the school to ensure her child attends regularly.
The second case involved a mother of two whose children attended school just 27% and 35% of the time respectively.
She must return to court next month for sentencing.
'Parents have a duty to send their children to school in order to give them the best possible education,' said Wrexham chief Learning and Achievement officer Hywyn Williams.
'Failure to do so is taken very seriously and we will not hesitate to prosecute in cases
where it is clear parents are not willing to co-operate in the best interests of their child.'
In all cases of poor attendance, the Local Education Authority
offers to work with parents to solve any attendance problems.
Only where parents fail to cooperate will it resort to prosecution.
