A MOTHER of four was yesterday made the subject of a parenting order after she admitted failing to ensure her son attended school.

The 33-year-old woman, from Darlington, was ordered to complete a six-month course of parenting classes when she appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that the woman's eldest child, a boy now aged 15, had not attended his school once out of a possible 212 days between September 2003 and last February.

The youth had also refused to attend a single lesson of his choice each week when his mother and education welfare officers tried to reason with him.

The court heard the woman, who The Northern Echo has decided not to name to protect the identity of her children, also failed to keep appointments with education workers.

Mike Rayner, for the woman, said: "She has done all she can to get him to school but to no avail. She is at the end of her tether. He is getting into trouble and has shown aggression towards his mother and younger siblings, and is aware of his mother being prosecuted, and his attitude is 'send her to prison'."

The court ordered that she complete a six-month parenting order and fined her £30 for non-compliance.