Mother prosecuted over truant children

A mother from the Llanelli area has been prosecuted for allowing her children to miss school.

The mother pleaded guilty at Carmarthen Magistrates Court last Friday to two offences contrary to Section 444 of the Education Act 1996. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The court was told the 14-year-old daughter only attended school 14 per cent of the time and the five-year-old son half the time. The local education authority made repeated efforts to get them to go to school.
The mother was given a conditional discharge for twelve months and also ordered that she pay £54 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
Executive board member for education and children Cllr Gareth Jones said: "We offer support to parents and look at all the alternatives before prosecuting.
“It is important that children attend school regularly or they will quickly fall behind. If parents refuse to respond when we offer help then we will prosecute.”