Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A Llanelli mother has been prosecuted for failing to make sure her children went to school. The mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty by post to two charges under the Education Act 1996 at Ammanford Magistrates Court. The prosecution was brought by Carmarthenshire County Council. The court heard that her 15-year-old daughter was absent from school for 54 per cent of the time between February 1 and May 14 this year. Her six-year-old son had an absence rate of 44 per cent during the same period. No explanation was given for their failure to go to school. Education welfare officers had visited the home on more than 20 occasions. She was fined a total of £130 by magistrates (£65 for each offence), and ordered to pay a total of £30 victims’ surcharge as well as prosecution costs of £100. The Education Act 1996 states parents are responsible for ensuring children of compulsory school age (five to 16 years old) receive a suitable education, either by regular attendance at...

A Llanelli mum has been fined more than £400 for allowing her daughter to truant from school. She was convicted at Llanelli Magistrates Court in her absence of an offence contrary to Section 444(1) of the Education Act, 1996. The court was told that the girl was absent from school more than three quarters of the time. An education welfare officer had tried on numerous occasions to engage with the family but to no avail. A final warning was given informing her parent of court proceedings unless there was an improvement in attendance. Action had previously been taken by the local authority for non-attendance at school. The mother was fined £435 and ordered to pay £100 prosecution costs. The local authority’s senior education welfare officer Avril Jones said: “We prefer to work with families to get children to attend school regularly and we only prosecute as a last resort. We had tried everything before bringing this prosecution.” Education executive board member Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge sa...