A MOTHER who was fined for taking her seven-year-old daughter out of school to attend the wedding of a terminally-ill family friend has branded the situation disgusting.

The mother – who cannot be named for legal reasons – said she provided Wroughton Infant School with two weeks’ written notice of their intention to attend the ceremony in Scotland.

However, on the last working day before they set off, and when the plans could not be changed, she claims they received a letter offering only one day’s leave instead of the requested five days.

The woman and her husband were prosecuted by Swindon Council and were left with a total bill of £235 after pleading guilty to failing to secure regular attendance at school of a registered pupil.

Speaking after the case at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, the mother-of-three said: “I think it’s disgusting under the circumstances “And everything was explained to the school about why we were going.

“We would normally not have taken them out of school in term time for anything, it had to be something exceptional.”

During the court case, prosecutor Rosie Heath told Swindon Magistrates Court that the young girl was absent from Wroughton Infant School from July 13 to July 16 last year.

The parents were sent letters offering them the chance to avoid prosecution by paying a £50 fine, which would rise to £100 if not paid within a limited period.

No payment was received so a questionnaire under caution was sent, the court heard, but there was still no response.

Ms Heath said she understood the school had allowed the child to take one day off to attend a wedding but decided the girl could not be off for the whole week because it was not abroad.

In a letter from the couple, read out in court, the parents said: “We have never asked for time off during term time other than this occasion.

“It was not a holiday, it was to go to attend a very close family friend’s wedding.

“It was a somewhat rushed affair because he was suffering from a recently diagnosed terminal cancer.”

Wroughton Infant School declined to comment on the case when contacted by the Adver.