The parents of a child who missed school regularly over a month have been ordered to pay more than £1,000. The pupil attends Haverfordwest High VC School in Pembrokeshire and failed to attend school regularly between January 12 and February 13 this year.
Court hearing and conviction
In a case brought by Pembrokeshire council, the child's parents, both in their 40s, were found guilty in their absence at a hearing in Haverfordwest Magistrates' Court on August 20. The offence was under section 444(1) and (8) of the Education Act 1996.
The court did not confirm how many days the pupil missed but stated the child was "a child of compulsory school age" who "failed to attend regularly".
Parenting orders imposed
The court imposed separate parenting orders on the mother and father. The orders state that the child "is to attend school every school day on time prior to the close of registration (at 9.30am)" and that the parents must contact the school on every occasion when the pupil is reported to be too unwell to attend.
They must also inform the school in advance of any medical appointment or other circumstance which may prevent the child from attending school. As part of the order, the parents "must respond to calls or to reply to text messages from both school and the responsible officer" and "must allow the officer into their home or to meet with them at a mutually convenient location" to discuss attendance issues.
They must also "attend meetings at school" or provide apologies in advance and arrange a mutually convenient date.
Total financial penalty
Each parent was fined £440 and made to pay costs of £100 and a surcharge of £117. That leaves the parents a combined £1,314 out of pocket due to the child's absences.
