A mother of two daughters has been jailed for not ensuring her children attend school.  The children have been regulary missing school for six years.  Magistrates sitting at Bournemouth made the decision to jail the mum for eight weeks for persistently allowing the children to miss school.  The mother and two daughters cannot be named for legal reasons.  In the United Kingdom it is a legal requirement that children attend educational establishments, either state or private.

Magistrates heard that Borough of Poole welfare officers became concerned over the childrens lack of attendance six years ago.  The local authority has been working with the family since 2002 but although trying all avenues they had no alternative as the situation became dire, but to prosecute even though the a custodial sentence may be handed down.

Previously the mother has had conditional discharges, parenting orders, fines and a suspended prison sentence.  A total of ten previous convictions. The children who are now teenagers have been placed on the Child Protection Register. One child had missed 35 half-day sessions out of 96 and the other child had missed 31 half-day sessions.  This was all during the terms covering  December 3rd 2007 to May 23rd 2008, a period of six months

Chairman of the bench criticised the mother for her lack of co-operation with the authortiies and said that it was an "inescapable conclusion that a custodial sentence was appropriate".

Under the law the maximum penalty for not sending children under your care to school is £2500 and/or up to three months imprisonment.

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