London Borough of Wandsworth (24 016 488)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 25-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate part of Mrs X’s complaint about its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 because the injustice claimed is not significant enough to warrant an investigation. We will not investigate another part of the complaint because the Information Commissioner’s Office is better suited to consider the matter. We cannot investigate the final part because it relates to the day-to-day operation of a school, which is outside our jurisdiction.

South Gloucestershire Council (24 005 060)

Statement Upheld Other 24-Feb-2025

Summary: Mrs D complained the Council failed to ensure that a nursery did not charge top up fees for free early education places and did not investigate her complaint properly. We found the sustainability charge was in line with the statutory guidance. There was fault in complaint handling which the Council has already apologised for.

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (24 016 005)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 20-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s concerns about the Council’s response to a complaint she made about her child’s school. We will not look at complaint handling as a standalone issue and we have no powers to look at complaints about the internal management of schools.

Buckinghamshire Council (24 019 109)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 18-Feb-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about information shared during court proceedings. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happened in court.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (24 009 853)

Statement Not upheld Other 11-Feb-2025

Summary: We have discontinued the investigation into Mr X’s complaint about unnecessary enforcement action. Enforcement action was a result of the Council pursuing a school attendance issue in court. We could not add anything to the investigation already carried out by the Council, nor could we achieve the outcome Mr X wants.

London Borough of Lewisham (23 020 687)

Statement Upheld Other 10-Feb-2025

Summary: Dr X complained the Council did not consider its section 19 duties when her child was too unwell to attend school. This meant her child was unable to access education. We have found the Council at fault for a delay in providing access to suitable provision after receiving a medical letter. This caused distress, uncertainty and frustration for Dr X and her child. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a symbolic financial payment and remind its staff of the Ombudsman’s guidance on how we expect councils to fulfil their responsibilities to provide education for children who do not attend school full-time.

Council of the Isles of Scilly (24 006 875)

Statement Not upheld Other 06-Feb-2025

Summary: We have ended our investigation into Mrs D’s complaint about how the Council considered and administered its policy for post-16 transport to education or training for her child, E, and the costs she has incurred to transport and accommodate E on the mainland. This is because another person started court action about the same, or very similar, matter. An investigation by us might have strayed into matters to be decided by the court.

Council of the Isles of Scilly (24 008 304)

Statement Not upheld Other 06-Feb-2025

Summary: We have ended our investigation into Mrs N’s complaint about how the Council considered and administered its policy for post-16 transport to education or training for her child, P, and the costs she has incurred to transport and accommodate P on the mainland. This is because another person started court action about the same, or very similar, matter. An investigation by us might stray into matters to be decided by the court.

West Sussex County Council (24 014 455)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Jan-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to make contact with the complainant while her daughter was out of school. This is because the alleged fault on the Council’s part has not caused a demonstrable injustice.

Liverpool City Council (24 017 058)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Jan-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about a social worker’s actions in relation to a section 7 court report. We have no jurisdiction to investigate matters subject to court proceedings.