NEARLY 5,000 parents across Essex were fined last year after their children failed to turn up to school...eight times more than in the previous 12 months.

Fresh figures released for the last academic year show Essex County Council generated almost £300,000 of income from unauthorised absences.

Essex County Council took action against 4,095 mums and dads compared to 137 in 2014/2015. In Thurrock, 707 £60 penalty notices were handed out - with 150 later withdrawn.

Thurrock council has prosecuted parents in the past for failing to send their children to school.

The Thurrock Gazette reported in 2009 that an Ockendon mum received a suspended prison sentence for failing to send her children to school.

The woman, received a fine after being prosecuted by Thurrock Council’s education welfare service for a similar offence.

Previous attempts by the service to discuss the children’s situation with the mother had failed.

The mother received concurrent sentences of six-weeks jail for each of the two offences.

She was also sentenced to another concurrent one week in prison for failing to comply with bail. In addition,

the court also imposed a 12-month supervision order.

The prison sentences were suspended for a year providing that there is no further offending or breach of the supervision order.

She was also ordered to pay £300 in court costs.

James Halden councillor for education and health said regular attendance in school is absolutely crucial when building the foundations of a child’s development.

He added: "There is no “good time” to excuse children from their right to learn.

"We will continue to tackle unauthorised absence through work with our education welfare team and prosecution if all else fails.”

Doctor Sophina Asong, headteacher at Gable Hall School, Southend Road, Corringham said schools work to prevent issues like truancy.

She added: "Schools have imaginative strategies when it comes to making sure that children attend school as regularly as possible.

"Schools work to make sure that every minute of education is spent responsibly. Children at our school enjoy their time at Gable Hall School very much."