A NEWPORT woman whose two teenage children missed hundreds of lessons was fined for failing to send them to school yesterday.

Sandra Parry, 39, of Swallow Way, Duffryn, pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to send her son and daughter to Duffryn High School.

Abergavenny magistrates heard that Parry's 13-year-old son attended school on only eight occasions out of a possible 86 between November 1, 2004, and February 25 this year. In the same period, her 15-year-old daughter attended on only 31 occasions.

The prosecutions were brought by Newport city council under the Education Act 1996.

Rebecca Watkins, on behalf of the council, told the court Duffryn High School's education welfare officer Paul Chaplin visited Parry's home on a number of occasions to find out why the children were not attending school, but no-one was in.

He sent a final warning letter in December, and Parry called him for a meeting.

Miss Watkins said Parry told Mr Chaplin her children refused to attend school and she could do nothing to persuade them.

Parry told the court: "They are not interested in going. I have tried to get them to go but they have got no interest."

Miss Watkins said the education welfare department continued to monitor the children's attendance between February 21 and June 10 this year. In that time Parry's daughter attended school on 54 occasions out of a possible 126 and her son attended none.

Miss Watkins told the court Parry had a previous conviction for failing to send her daughter to school in November 2002, when she was fined £50.

Parry told magistrates that she receives a total of £1,080 a month in benefits and child allowance. She was fined £50 and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Speaking after the case, a spokesman for Newport council said: "Our education welfare service can support and advise parents who are having difficulties with their child's attendance and we would encourage parents to make contact early if problems start."