More than 2,000 fines issued to parents over children missing school

MORE than 2,000 Middlesbrough parents were fined last year due to persistent absenteeism.

- By GAZETTE REPORTER

A Freedom of Information request revealed 2,113 fines were issued by the authority, an average of almost six per day.

However, data showed that both the number of fines and prosecutions fell in the 2024/25 academic year - with the number of parents taken to court more than halving in the last 12 months. The figures came to light as thousands of youngsters across the area returned to school for the new academic year.

Truancy expert Jill Robson, founder of A Star Attendance Solutions, said the stats show just how vital early action is when it comes to preventing repeat absenteeism.

“School absence is rarely about children simply not wanting to attend,” said Jill, who spent over 20 years as a council attendance officer before launching the business.