A MUM from South Ockendon has been jailed after admitting not sending her three children to school.

The 40-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was given a 52-day sentence at Basildon Magistrates Court yesterday in respect of her 15 and 16-year-old.

The court also imposed a 12 month conditional discharge as a result of her seven-year-old missing school.

The court heard the 16-year-old had not been at school at all in one 100-day period. The 15-year old attended 42 sessions out of 88 and the seven-year-old went to 90 sessions out of 128.

The family have been known to Thurrock Council’s Education Welfare Service since 2008.

The mother had also been prosecuted last year when magistrates imposed a suspended prison sentence, which was activated yesterday.

This is the third time Thurrock Council has prosecuted the mother for the older children, and the first time for the seven-year-old.