A MOTHER fined for failing to send her children to school in Melksham wants more action taken against children themselves.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was fined £100 at Chippenham Magistrates Court for failing to ensure the two youngsters attend classes.

She said: "One of them is back at school but the other one isn't. We have been trying to get her to go but she hasn't bothered to go back since.

"I want them to do something where if she doesn't go to school she has to go into the court herself and explain. I think then she would know they are not mucking around."

The mother said the prosecution, brought by Wiltshire County Council, would not help in the battle to keep her daughters in the classroom.

"There are a lot of people whose kids don't go to school and they don't get taken to court. I'm being victimised."

Truancy cases are brought to court when the Local Education Authority rules parents are not co-operating in getting their children back to school.

A charge of failing to send a child to school can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and Wiltshire County Council pledged to crack down on the problem two years ago.

In a stark warning aimed at parents whose children play truant with their knowledge, the council says parents could face jail if they do not ensure youngsters are going to lessons.

Since November 2003, the council has brought 25 prosecutions in north and west Wiltshire for parents failing to ensure their children attended school, resulting in fines ranging from £50 to £350. A Wiltshire County Council spokesman said: "Our education welfare service is responsible, with other agencies, for helping to tackle truancy. We aim to work with parents, young people, schools and other agencies to solve truancy issues. We only ever take parents to court as a last resort and it is not a course of action we take lightly and one which we would rather avoid. There are a lot of other ways we will try and engage with the parents before court action becomes necessary.

"We will meet parents at their homes or in school, we will write to them to let them know that there is a problem and what help and support is available to them.

"We always liaise closely with parents, the young person, the school and any other agencies involved before commencing court action."

Factfile

Parents of children of compulsory school age (five to 16) must ensure their child receives education by regular attendance at school or otherwise. Failure can lead to prosecution.

Wiltshire County Council is responsible for making sure pupils attend school.

In 2002/2003 Wiltshire had 32,229 pupils of compulsory school age.

The average number of half days missed per primary school pupil in Wiltshire in 2002/2003 was 15 authorised absences and seven unauthorised.

For secondary school pupils the average was 22 days authorised and 12 unauthorised.