Hefty fine for failing to send child to school

THE MOTHER of a secondary school pupil from the Bodmin area has been fined more than £700 for failing to ensure that her child attends school on a regular basis.

The parent, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did not attend the court hearing at East Cornwall Magistrates on Monday, but the bench decided to prosecute in her absence and fined her £400. The court was told that the child had 57 sessions of unauthorised absence out of a possible 130 that should have been attended between September 6 and December 15 of last year.

The magistrates also ordered the parent to pay legal costs of £329.36 and a victim surcharge of £15.

John Heath, Cornwall Council's principal education welfare officer, said after the case he hoped that this sentence will send a clear message to other parents and carers who are failing to ensure that their children attend school regularly.

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"Education welfare officers in Cornwall work closely with schools, parents and pupils to try to sort out attendance issues,'' he said.