City of York Council (25 005 046)

Report Upheld Special educational needs 15-Oct-2026

Summary: We upheld Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to deliver the provision in her son Y’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. This meant Y’s needs were not sufficiently met, and it caused Mrs X distress. The Council was also at fault for its communication with Mrs X and its handling of her complaint which caused her further distress and uncertainty.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (25 013 803)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We agree with the Council’s findings of fault in the way it managed the complainant’s son’s reassessment of his Education, Health and Care Plan. This has caused a loss of education and avoidable distress and time and trouble. The Council has agreed the recommended ways to remedy this. We have therefore completed our investigation and are closing the complaint.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (25 013 993)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We upheld a complaint from Mrs B, finding the Council failed to properly consider if it owed a duty to make alternative education provision for her son during his absence from school. We considered this contributed to a loss of education provision for him, which was an injustice. The Council has accepted these findings and agreed action we recommended to remedy that injustice, comprising an apology and symbolic payment to Mrs B. It has also amended relevant policy to address what it will do when children miss school in similar circumstances.

Staffordshire County Council (25 021 348)

Statement Upheld School admissions 29-Sep-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained about the way the Council handled her request for a school place for Y and the way it handled her request for alternative provision while he was out of school. The Council was at fault for providing unclear communication to Mrs X, causing uncertainty, but it has already taken suitable action to address the injustice caused.

Central Bedfordshire Council (25 028 664)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Sep-2026

Summary: Summary: Mrs Y complained about the way the Council dealt with her child, Z’s special educational needs provision and reviews of their Education Health and Care Plans. We have found a number of faults by the Council, causing injustice, including: a failure to deliver Z’s speech and language therapy provision in 2022; and delays completing the 2023 and 2024 annual review process. The Council has already taken action to remedy some of the faults found. It has also agreed to: apologise to Mrs Y; make a payment to recognise the distress caused; and confirm the position regarding any 2025 annual review personal budget requests.

Bristol City Council (26 002 481)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions during and after a tribunal. Some matters are out of our jurisdiction and on the matters we can consider, any injustice suffered is not significant enough to warrant further investigation.

West Sussex County Council (26 003 259)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about fixed penalty notices issued by the Council when he kept his children away from school because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable for us.

Surrey County Council (26 017 669)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council decided a home to school transport application for post 16 education. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making to warrant further investigation.

Westminster City Council (26 017 772)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council changing the content of the Education, Health, and Care Plan for Miss X’s child. This is because the law says we cannot investigate when someone has used their right to appeal to a Tribunal.

West Berkshire Council (25 011 755)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Sep-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council in failing to provide suitable education when a child could not access school, and a failure to process the annual review of the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan within statutory timeframes for two consecutive years. The child missed out on six terms of suitable education and appeal rights were delayed. The Council will apologise, pay a symbolic financial payment, and make service improvements. The complaint is upheld.