A MOTHER has been jailed because of her 13-year-old daughter's truancy.

The 43-year-old Macclesfield mum was sentenced to 28 days by the town's magistrates after she admitted failing to ensure the girl attended school regularly.

Cheshire East Council brought the case after the child attended only 11 out of 81 school sessions between October 9 and December 19 2008.

The court was told of the mother's 'total failure' to co-operate with the council's education welfare service, which has been involved with the family since 2001 when the child was at primary school.

The mother, who can not be named for legal reasons, already has two previous convictions dating from 2007 and 2008 relating to her daughter's truancy.

Danny McLoughlin principal education welfare officer, said: "Truancy is damaging to a child's education at any age, but Year 9 is a crucial time when GCSE option choices are made which form the basis of study for the next two years.

"By failing to stop her daughter playing truant, the mother in this case was in serious danger of jeopardising her daughter's educational opportunities and career prospects."

Coun Paul Findlow, portfolio holder for children and family Services, said: "Taking parents to court is a last resort. But there is little option if a parent consistently ignores all the help, warnings and advice they are given.

"Whilst this sentence gives us no pleasure at all, it does reinforce the message that we are prepared to prosecute parents who refuse to co-operate."