Two mums fined for failing to register their children at schools

Staffordshire County Council brought proceedings against the two women, who live in Stafford and Cannock.

But the authority, which has seen an increase in parents choosing to educate their children at home, has said that legal action is considered a last resort if issues cannot be resolved and it tries to work with families to avoid going to court. Most parents who choose to home educate do so to a “good standard” and work closely with the authority, a senior councillor said.

One parent who faced legal action was ordered by the council to send her child to King Edward VI High School in Stafford in September 2021 – just over half a mile from the family home. But by February 2023 he was still not registered at the school and she had not provided any information to prove he was receiving suitable education, North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard on Monday (October 2).

The mother, who has not been named for legal reasons, did not attend Monday’s hearing. The case against her was proven in her absence and she was fined £440 and ordered to pay £874 costs and a £176 surcharge.

Magistrates heard in a separate case on Monday that the Cannock child was believed to be receiving elective home education. But no information was provided about education provision when requested by the county council.

An order was made in December 2022 to register the girl at Moorhill Primary School. But her mother, who has not been named for legal reasons, had failed to comply with the requirement between February and March this year and magistrates found the case to be proven against her.

The woman, who did not attend the hearing, had explained she removed her daughter from education “due to worries she had that she was not being protected and safe during the Covid 19 pandemic”, the court heard. She was fined £400 and also ordered to pay £660 costs and a £176 surcharge.

Speaking after the hearings Councillor Jonathan Price, cabinet member for education, said: “In line with the rest of the country, we have seen an increase in parents choosing to educate their children at home in Staffordshire. Our priority is to ensure all children in the county get a good standard of education so they get the best start in life, don’t lose out on education and ultimately, achieve their aspirations.

“Most parents who choose to home educate their children do so to a good standard, and work closely with us to ensure their children achieve the most out of the education they provide. If parents refuse to share information with us about their child’s education or the education provided isn’t suitable, we try to work with them as much as possible to resolve the issue.

“If it can’t be resolved, a School Attendance Order will be put in place which requires the parent to register their child at a school. Taking a parent to court is an absolute last resort and only happens when all other options have been exhausted.

“Throughout the whole process we try to work with parents to resolve the issue. We have to act in the best interests of the children, and ensure the education they are being provided with is suitable and will set them up for the future.”