More parental fines as schools take on truants

The number of parents taken to court because their child has skipped school has risen sharply, with more than 16,000 prosecuted last year - an increase of 25% on 2013.

The rise is being blamed on the growth in pupil numbers, and strict new rules on term-time holidays.

There has also been an increase in fines and in the number of parents going to jail.

Robert Pigott reports.