A SPALDING mum must serve a year-long community order with ten days of special training because her 13-year-old daughter didn’t go to school.
The 50-year-old admitted being the parent of a girl who failed to attend school regularly between September 5 and October 20 last year.
Anne Whelan, senior legal officer for Lincolnshire County Council, said the teenager – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – had an unauthorised absence rate of 95 per cent at her old school.
She has since been placed in a learning support unit but had been absent for a fortnight up to the day before Thursday’s court hearing.
Solicitor Rachel Stevens, mitigating, said it was a case of genuine inadequacy so far as the mum was concerned.
Miss Stevens said: “She presents as someone defeated by the whole situation. She is not sure what to do when they won’t get out of bed and go to school.”
Presiding magistrate Jo Sunner told the mother: “This has been going on for a very long time. The court is trying to help you. Grab this help with both hands and go forward. Let some good come out of it.”
The mother must also pay £50 towards prosecution costs.