Essex County Council (23 016 413)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 05-Mar-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to change a named home to school transport provider for a child she cares for because there is insufficient evidence of fault, and we cannot achieve the outcome Mrs X wants.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 009 065)

Statement Not upheld School transport 05-Mar-2024

Summary: There was no fault in how the Council decided the level of school travel support to offer Miss B’s daughter. There was no fault in the process the Council followed when making the decision, so we have no power the question the decision itself.

London Borough of Bromley (23 012 074)

Statement Upheld School transport 01-Mar-2024

Summary: Miss Y complains about the Council’s decision to refuse to provide transport assistance for her daughter, D, to attend the school named in her EHC Plan. There is fault because the Council based its decision on factors which were not relevant. This is because it said there are closer schools which D could attend, however those schools are not named in her EHC Plan. The Council will complete the agreed actions to remedy the injustice caused by fault.

Herefordshire Council (23 019 080)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 29-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to award Miss X’s child free home to school transport. This is because we would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (23 008 217)

Statement Upheld School transport 29-Feb-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council failed to consider her application for free school transport properly. To the Council’s credit, it has now reconsidered and granted travel assistance for the complainant’s daughter. This has resolved the main aspect of the complaint. The Council has also agreed a small additional remedy to recognise the avoidable distress to the complainant.

Surrey County Council (23 016 116)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 28-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision her child does not qualify for free home to school transport. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault by the Council.

Wokingham Borough Council (23 014 442)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 27-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the home to school transport offered to her son. This is because it is reasonable for Ms X to use the Council’s own appeals process to challenge its decisions. The Council has agreed to reimburse Ms X for transport she provided while her son received Education Other Than At School. An investigation at the current time would not achieve anything more.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (23 016 764)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 27-Feb-2024

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to provide Mr X with a backdated travel assistance personal budget. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

Middlesbrough Borough Council (23 016 110)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 20-Feb-2024

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about the decision not to fund her daughter’s school transport. The complaint lies outside our jurisdiction because the matter has been decided at tribunal.

London Borough of Ealing (23 008 445)

Statement Upheld School transport 19-Feb-2024

Summary: Ms M complained the Council refused her request for school transport for her son, B. There does not appear to be any basis in legislation or guidance for the Council’s insistence Ms M should accompany B on public transport to school. A number of faults, taken together, call the Council’s decision into question. The Council has agreed to consider Ms M’s application again.