A Stoke-on-Trent mum has been ordered to pay almost £550 after failing to ensure her daughter was attending school regularly.

The girl's school attendance fell to just 31% at the start of the current academic year, Newcastle magistrates heard on Monday (June 3).

Her mother, who has not been named for legal reasons, was convicted in December of failing to ensure her daughter attended school regularly between May 15 and October 5 2023. She was fined £2225 and also ordered to pay a £90 victim surcharge and costs of £234.68.

Tracey Middleweek, prosecuting on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council at the hearing at North Staffordshire Justice Centre, said: "There has been a bit of history of poor attendance and it appears to have started in Year Six. It has resulted in a previous conviction in August 2022.

"The latest period was impacted by unauthorised absence and a holiday taken during term time. During that time, it's fair to say she was not engaging with the services offered.

The mother was convicted in December of failing to ensure her daughter attended school regularly (Wiki Commons).

"In terms of current attendance she is now at 63% – there has been some improvement in the level of unauthorised absences. The family are now supported by social care and it does seem she has started to engage and there has been some progress made.

"There is a report from school to say (the girl) is still displaying some challenging behaviours and her attitude to learning is inconsistent and poor. At present she is underachieving in all subjects apart from IT."

Andrew Turnock, defending, said there had been a "marked improvement" in the girl's attendance in recent months since social care became involved. He added: "63% (attendance rate) is still too low, but nowhere near as low as it was.

"(The mother) has made concerted effort to make improvements in the family home. She had been on benefits, not working, and she had been in a bit of a hole personally.

"She is determined to be a better mother and she has started work as a sales assistant, completing 24 hours a week. She hopes to get more hours – she is going out into the world in the morning to earn a living and that change in attitude is feeding into the child's attendance at school."

Magistrate Neil Lomas told the mother: "This is your second conviction and you are on the radar. You need to ensure her attendance gets above 63%, which is not good enough.

"If you are struggling with that, do what you need to do, do the right thing and get help. I'm sure they will bend over backwards to support you.

"But if you run away and hide, you will be back through this door and it's going to get worse. Hiding never works."

------------

READ MORE: Girl involved in collision with off-road bike at Stoke-on-Trent park

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.