AN ARTHRITIC mother whose daughter stayed off school to help her must wear an electronic tag for the next month.

The woman, 35 who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to knowingly failing to ensure her child, eight, attended school.

Swindon magistrates heard the girl, who is in Year 3, was absent on 46 occasions between November last year and January out of a possible 100 she could have attended school.

The mother was given a 12-month community order and a four-week tagged curfew. Her husband was earlier this month ordered to do 50 hours of unpaid work after admitting keeping the girl off school.

Rosie Heath, acting for Swindon Borough Council, said the girl has not attended a full week of school since the start of the academic year.

Her parents were invited to a meeting with teachers to discuss the absences. But the couple failed to turn up to the meeting, as they took their daughter off school for a two week holiday to South Africa before the Christmas holiday.

“They said they had to change the family holiday to South Africa to go early because of a family emergency,” Ms Heath said.

She said the parents had not provided medical evidence for their daughter’s absence, adding: “There was no evidence of taking any positive steps to get her to school. They compounded her poor attendance by taking her on holiday.”

But the court heard that the girl was bullied at school, with fellow pupils teasing her about horror character Slenderman. The girl’s mother told magistrates it was reported to teachers: “It was me who had to teach her that it was an urban legend.”

The mother suffered from severe arthritis, which meant she struggled to get her daughter to school: “I have got my medication now, but it’s not working. I do try to get her in the school taxis. But I can’t forcibly put her in.”

There was a suggestion in court that the girl was deliberately staying off school to help her mother around the house.

Magistrates heard that a new social worker had been posted to support the family. Relatives were also available and could help drive the mother to appointments.

Probation officers recommended she be given a community order and placed on a programme looking at how her behaviour affected family life.

Chairman of the bench Amanda Lee said: “We’ve heard what’s been said by probation.

"I was here at the last case and I remember there would be progress because of the family support worker.”

Magistrates backed the probation service’s recommendations, sentencing her to a 12-month community order.

She must wear an electronic tag for four weeks and complete five rehabilitation sessions. They also ordered she pay costs of £175 and an £85 victim surcharge.

Ms Lee urged the woman to work with probation: “The bench doesn’t expect to see you in court.”