A NORTH Cumbrian mum prosecuted for failing to ensure her children regularly go to school was too busy providing essential care to her bedbound father to tackle the issue, a court heard.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, the woman - who has multiple caring responsibilities - pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to make sure her children regularly attended their secondary school.

Jonathan Farnsworth, prosecuting on behalf of Cumbria County Council’s Children’s Services Department, said the decision to prosecute was made after months of efforts by officials to change the situation.

The woman involved – a single mum – had been offered full and comprehensive support and advice by school officials and the education professionals but she had consistently failed to act on the advice given.

Describing the school attendance of one of the woman’s children, a teenager, the lawyer said the girl had been absent from 86.5 per cent of her classes over a 15-month period up to December of last year.

The defendant’s second child had attended on 57 per cent of the classes she should have gone to during the five months up to late December last year. Yet the school involved, which can not be named for legal reasons, had offered extensive support to the mother.

This included many senior staff at the school, including the girl’s form tutor and the school’s director of learning. A vulnerability risk assessment of the two children found no significant concerns, said Mr Farnsworth.

“Support was offered but the defendant just didn’t follow it up,” said the lawyer. Both children had settled friendship groups at the school and there was no bullying issue for either child identified.

Referring to the older child, Mr Farnsworth added: “A significant amount of education has been lost over a long period with an apparent negative effect on the younger sibling in terms of attendance.”

Duncan Campbell, defending, outlined how before coming into court the mother had been dealing with a phone call from her poorly father, the person for whom she has been acting as an unpaid carer.

The lawyer said the defendant’s father had been provided with social services carers, who looked after him for “five minutes at a time.”

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When the father came out come out of hospital after a lengthy stay, however, the defendant cared for him on her own for 12 weeks but carers were now again helping, though for only short periods.

The woman - for whom finances were tight - said that her older child hated school, though there was no obvious or particular reason for this, prompting her to say: “What can I do about it?”

Mr Campbell said: “She was caring for her dad, and her children; she has had a lot of her plate but she accepts she has to bear the responsibility for her children going to school. She is not particularly forthcoming.

“It’s a very sorry case, in many ways: she doesn’t help herself by keeping her problems to herself.”

Deputy District Judge Simon Blakbrough said the offences can attract a jail sentence but told the woman: “This is the kind of case where punishment is probably less appropriate than something which might help you and your family going forward.”

He ordered a background pre-sentence report and adjourned sentence until April 12.