Education bosses have taken a number of parents to court in recent months after their children did not attend school.

Bolton Council has prosecuted around a dozen parents and guardians for failing to ensure their children were in class.

Multiple cases, called at Tameside Magistrates, and related to both to this issue in both primary and secondary schools.

Anne Galloway, Bolton Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said education was vital for youngsters.

She said: “It is very important for children to attend school. 

“The evidence from the Covid lockdown showed how their education suffers as well as their general wellbeing when they are not physically in the classroom. 

“Schools do work with families where there is a high level of non-attendance to try and understand the underlying cause.”

Two guardians with children at SS Simon and Jude Primary School were prosecuted.

Both of these cases related to non-attendance between February and April last year.

The first was fined £220 and the second was £440.

Three guardians with children at Ladybridge High School were prosecuted.

These related to non attendance between February and June last year.

They were all fined £220.

One guardian penalised for this was also prosecuted for failing to ensure another child attended at St Bede Primary School between March and June last year and given an extra fine of £220.

Two guardians were penalised for non-attendance at St Catherine’s Academy between February and May last year.

They were both fined £220.

One person was penalised with a child at Lever Edge Primary School, who did not attend between April and May of 2022.

They were fined £121.

Another person was penalised for ensuring a child attended at the Blackrod Anglican Methodist Primary School between March and April last year and was fined £90.

Two guardians were fined £220 for failing to ensure a children attended at Our Lady of Lourdes RC School between April and May of last year.

Two people were penalised for failing to ensure children attended at Kearsley Academy between March and June last year.

One was fined £220 and the other was fined £440.

Another guardian was fined £220 for failing to ensure a child attended at Thornleigh Salesian College between March and May last year.

Two people were penalised in relation to non-attendance at St James’s CE High School between March and May last year.

One was fined £40 and the other £60.

Two guardians were penalised for non-attendance at Gaskell Primary School between March and April 2022.

Both cases related to two youngsters.

They were both fined £440.

Another person was fined £220 for non-attendance at Devonshire Road Primary School between April and May last year.