Essex County Council (24 017 444)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 08-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council is failing in its duty to make suitable educational provision for the complainant’s son. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.

Suffolk County Council (23 019 180)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 06-Mar-2025

Summary: Ms X complained that the Council failed to provide suitable full-time education to her son while he was unable to attend school. We have found no fault. The Council provided education which, in its view, met Ms X’s son’s needs, and it has explained why it did not consider it appropriate to make more education available to him. These were matters for the Council to decide and we have no power to question them.

Bristol City Council (24 002 809)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 06-Mar-2025

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has not made alternative education provision for her son. The Council is at fault because it did not properly consider whether it should make alternative education provision. Mrs X suffered avoidable distress and Y missed educational provision. The Council should apologise, pay Mrs X £4,500 and provide guidance to staff.

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.

Leeds City Council (24 002 171)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Feb-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to provide her daughter, Y with a suitable full-time education since she could not attend school for medical reasons. We found fault by the Council causing Y to miss out on education she was entitled to. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Ms X and her daughter in recognition of the injustice caused to them.

West Sussex County Council (24 002 850)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Feb-2025

Summary: Mrs Y complained the Council failed to provide her child, Z, with a suitable education. We have found fault by the Council, causing injustice, in failing to consider its duty to make alternative educational provision for Z during the period from January 2023 to April 2024. The Council has agreed to remedy this injustice by apologising to Mrs Y, and making payments to acknowledge the distress caused and impact of the missed education on Z.

Surrey County Council (24 005 704)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Feb-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to review Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan within statutory time limits and delayed in obtaining an Educational Psychologist reassessment. Mrs X also complained the Council failed to make appropriate alternative provision available while Y was out of school. Mrs X said this caused her real stress and frustration. We find the Council at fault. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to recognise the injustice caused and act to prevent recurrence.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (23 018 350)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 26-Feb-2025

Summary: Miss F complained the Council failed to arrange alternative provision for her daughter. We found fault which caused a loss of education and distress. The Council has agreed to make a payment to Miss F for the educational benefit of her daughter to remedy that injustice.