Derbyshire County Council (24 015 704)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 04-Mar-2025

Summary: We have upheld this complaint because the Council delayed considering a request for an Education Health and Care needs assessment for Mrs X’s child. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint by apologising and offering to make a suitable payment to Mrs X to remedy the injustice this caused.

Manchester City Council (24 016 379)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 04-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint the Council did not agree to amend Mr X’s Educational Health and Care Plan. These decisions carry a right of appeal which it would be reasonable for Mrs X to use.

Surrey County Council (24 016 887)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 04-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about post-16 college transport for Mr X’s daughter. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an investigation.

Lancashire County Council (24 017 364)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 04-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Education, Health and Care plan process. This is because the Council has agreed to an appropriate remedy for the injustice caused by the delay.

Sheffield City Council (23 017 818)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Mar-2025

Summary: The Council failed to properly consider its duty to provide alternative education for Ms X’s child, Z. This led to Z missing out on alternative provision and caused Ms X uncertainty and frustration. In recognition of the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise, pay Ms X £1,200 and carry out service improvements.

Leeds City Council (24 002 919)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Mar-2025

Summary: the Council’s initial response when Mrs P asked for help because her son, B, was unable to attend school was good. There were delays arranging alternative provision and B only received the core offer from the Council’s medical needs tuition service while Mrs P funded additional tuition. The Council has changed its procedures and has agreed a symbolic remedy for the injustice caused.

Worcestershire County Council (24 006 871)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Mar-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to ensure her son, Y received a suitable education after he stopped attending school in January 2024 due to anxiety. The Council accepted it should have put alternative provision in place for Y between May and July 2024. It agreed to apologise to Miss X and make payments to her to recognise Y’s missed education and for the distress and frustration caused.

Suffolk County Council (24 008 675)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 04-Mar-2025

Summary: Miss B complained the Council delayed agreeing to reassess her son’s education, health and care plan, delayed seeking advice, delayed issuing a final education, health and care plan, failed to consult the relevant professionals and failed to respond to her correspondence. Based on current evidence the Council delayed confirming it would carry out a reassessment, in seeking advice and issuing a final EHC Plan and failed to respond to some of Miss B’s correspondence. That delayed Miss B’s appeal rights and has left her with distress and uncertainty. An apology and payment to Miss B is satisfactory remedy.

Buckinghamshire Council (24 013 488)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Mar-2025

Summary: We have upheld Mrs X’s complaint about delays in the Education, Health and Care needs assessment process for her child, Y. The Council agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused.

City of Doncaster Council (24 013 854)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Mar-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to name a school in an Education, Health, and Care Plan. Miss X has already appealed the Council’s decision, and the law does not allow us to investigate. Nor will we investigate any complaint about delays in finalising the plan. This is because the Council upheld this part of Miss X’s complaint and agreed to remedy her outstanding injustice.