A mother has been fined in court after taking her daughter out of primary school during term time.
The Stoke-on-Trent woman, unnamed for legal reasons, defended the absence by arguing that her daughter’s health condition necessitated the trip.
The family’s return from holiday was unexpectedly delayed due to the travel agency going bankrupt, the mother told the North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
This resulted in the young girl missing two extra days of school in June, 2024, according to Stoke on Trent Live.
The mother was given a £60 fine, which she attempted to settle but the payment was not confirmed.
She attributed the mistake to her dyslexia, telling the court: ‘I’m dyslexic and I didn’t realise you had to press a confirmation.’
The woman argued that the period of absence included holidays, adding: ‘She was only absent from school a few days.
‘I cannot be held responsible for a transfer company not picking me up. I spent every penny I had to get home.
The family’s delayed return resulted in the young girl missing an extra two days of primary school (File image)
The mother said her child had endured stress as a result of her mental condition, which she felt necessitated the time away (File image)
‘I have total respect for the law. But I felt my child needed a break with her family after all she had been through.’
In response, magistrate Philip Taylor said: ‘You did try to make payment, but the responsibility is with you to make sure payment has gone through.’
In January 2024, the mother formally requested time off for May 23 to June 7 for the trip.
And school records indicate the pupil’s absence was a unique occurrence, with her attendance at 87 per cent for the current academic year.
The mother was ordered to pay £60 by magistrates, as well as a £24 surcharge.
In an unrelated hearing on Monday, another parent was ordered to pay a staggering £660 owing to her daughter’s absence from school between June 5 and June 13 last year.
She was not present at the hearing and proceedings took place in her absence.
The court heard that attempts by the school to contact the family on June 5 were unsuccessful, with an international dial tone becoming audible the next day.
The mother eventually informed the school that the family was attending a wedding abroad.
In addition to the fine, the mother must pay a £264 surcharge and local authority costs of £93.
