Four parents have been fined hundreds of pounds for failing to send their children to school regularly.

The parents – who cannot be named for legal reasons to protect the identity of their children – appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.

The prosecutions were bought by Hampshire County Council.

In each case it was proven that the defendants, four mothers, were parents of a child of compulsory school age registered at a school who failed to attend regularly.

One Eastleigh mother failed to ensure her child attended school regularly over a three-month period.

It was said the child did not attend between December 2022 and March 2023.

She was fined £440 and must also pay prosecution costs of £100 and a surcharge of £176.

A second mother from Eastleigh appeared before the court on April 3.

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The court heard she failed to ensure her child attended school regularly between October 2023 and January 2024.

She was ordered to pay £716 by May 2, made up of a £440 fine, £100 costs and £176 surcharge.

The court also heard how a mother from Hedge End failed to ensure her child regularly attended school over a period spanning approximately six months – between July 2023 and January 2024.

The case was proved in her absence on April 3.

She was fined £440 and must also pay prosecution costs of £100 and a surcharge of £176.

Another mother, from Lyndhurst, was brought to court by the council after she failed to ensure her child attended school between July and November 2023.

She was also fined £440 and must also pay prosecution costs of £100 and a surcharge of £176.