Four Isle of Wight parents have been slapped with hefty court fees, after failing to send their children to school.

Each case was heard before Portsmouth magistrates, between January 30 and February 19.

A 37-year-old woman from Newport was fined £246 and ordered to pay costs of £100 and a £98 surcharge.  

Her son and daughter failed to attend school between March 27 and March 31 of last year.

Another mother – aged 53, from Ryde – was fined £220, and ordered to pay costs of £100 and an £88 surcharge, for dates between March 20 and March 24 of last year.

A third mother, aged 40, from the same town, was fined £440, and ordered to pay costs of £100 and a £176 surcharge.

Her two daughters failed to attend school between March 13 and March 21 of last year.

A fourth parent – a 41-year-old father from Cowes – was fined £220 and ordered to pay costs of £100 and an £88 surcharge.

His child failed to attend school between February 6 and February 10 of last year.

Department for Education figures show the Isle of Wight Council handed out 1,426 penalties to parents and guardians for their child's persistent absence in the 2022-23 academic year.

Penalty notices are handed out if a child frequently misses school and costs either £60 if paid within 21 days of receipt or £120 thereafter.

If it is not paid in four weeks, the local authority must either prosecute or withdraw the notice.

That is when parents end up facing court procedures.