Case Ref: 22 013 478 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to demonstrate that it has reminded Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) staff that where a child or young person’s circumstances around their education changes, the Council must review their Education, Health and Care Plan to ensure they have an up-to-date record of their education and SEN provision.

Case Ref: 23 003 004 Category: Education Sub Category: School transport

• The Council has agreed to review the findings of our investigation at senior officer level, to identify wider points of learning. It has also agreed to share the findings of our investigation with relevant officers.

Case Ref: 23 001 612 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• The Council will remind officers of the Council's duties under law and guidance to provide alternative provision when a child of statutory school age is out of school for health reasons. The Council will share a copy of our focus report Out of school...Out of sight? and our final decision when doing so.

Case Ref: 23 000 941 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to remind staff they should check to ensure a child is receiving the EHC provision they are entitled to when there is a new or substantially different EHC plan or a change of placement.

Case Ref: 22 017 751 Category: Planning Sub Category: Enforcement

• The Council will review how it ensures it can meet the approximate timescales set out in its Enforcement Policy and Flowchart for uncomplicated cases, including how it informs complainants about delays which may occur to limit their expectations.

Case Ref: 22 015 647 Category: Planning Sub Category: Enforcement

• Provide training to staff about the importance of ensuring planning conditions are accurate and specific. The Council should highlight the potential implications of errors in planning conditions on the planning enforcement team and the public

Case Ref: 22 014 988 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council agreed to share a copy of our final decision with all staff who work in its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service, and its complaints service. It will remind them of the Council’s duties under the Equality Act 2010, including the reasonable adjustment duty.
• The Council agreed to issue reminders to all relevant staff in its Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service:that where a child’s parents or young person asks for Education Otherwise than at School (EOTAS) arrangements to be specified in the EHC plan, the Council must consider and respond to this request;that where a child’s parents or young person asks for a personal budget during an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plan review, the Council must consider and respond to this request; andabout the importance of communicating properly with families, responding to specific queries, and keeping them updated about any delays.
• The Council agreed to issue reminders to staff involved in the complaint response in this case, that when the Council accepts fault it should consider how it can put things right for the complainant, in line with the Ombudsman’s guide, ‘Effective complaint handling for local authorities’.

Case Ref: 22 014 987 Category: Planning Sub Category: Planning applications

• Explain what it will do to resolve the matter that is preventing Mr X being notified about planning applications. I understand this to be updating its internal mapping service.

Case Ref: 22 014 122 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• the Council has agreed to report to us on:any action it has taken to address the issues in completing EHC needs assessments within the statutory timescales due to delays in receiving advice from Educational Psychologists;
• the outcome of the action it proposed to take to address delays in its complaint handling (as set out in paragraphs 64 and 65 above); and
• the outcome of its comprehensive review and reorganisation of the Education Welfare Service, and its section 19 duties (as set out in paragraph 66 above).

Case Ref: 22 011 687 Category: Education Sub Category: Alternative provision

• Issue written reminders to relevant staff to ensure they are aware of:• The Council’s duties under section 19 of the Education Act 1996 to provide provision or suitable education for children of compulsory age who cannot attend school because of exclusion, medical reasons or otherwise.• The Department for Education statutory guidance which says where specific medical evidence,such as that provided by a medical consultant, is not quickly available,councils should consider liaising with other medical professionals, such as the child’s GP, and consider looking at other evidence to ensure minimal delay inarranging appropriate provision for the child.