Bracknell

A Bracknell Forest Borough Council mother has been tagged for allowing her daughter to miss school after being jailed for a similar offence in 2004.

East Berkshire Magistrates handed down a two month curfew sentence and ordered the woman to pay a £150 fine earlier this month (February 1) after hearing how she failed to ensure her 15 year old daughter attended school.

In spite of repeated efforts by Bracknell Forest Borough Council's education welfare officers the girl attended school for just 45 half day sessions from a possible 116 between April and September 2005.

The mother has been taken to court by Bracknell Council on six previous occasions since 1996 receiving four fines, a community sentence and on the sixth occasion, a custodial sentence of 28 days.

The Education Act 1996 states that parents are responsible for ensuring children of compulsory school age (five to 16 year olds) receive a suitable education, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.

Bracknell Council, as the local education authority (LEA) can prosecute parents who fail to meet this statutory duty. Recent government guidance encourages LEAs to take a hard line on absenteeism.

Education welfare officers investigate reports of regular absenteeism with schools and parents. Legal action is the last resort if parents refuse to accept their responsibility to educate their child.

Tony Eccleston, Bracknell Director of Education, Children's Services and Libraries, said: "We always try to work with parents to resolve problems but regrettably there are cases, such as this, in which parents are not willing to co-operate.

"We have a duty to make sure our children get the education they are entitled to and unauthorised absence from school is not acceptable. If parents won't work with us in these cases we will take them to court."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council