Shropshire Council (20 006 583)

Statement Not upheld School transport 23-Aug-2021

Summary: Mr B complains that the Council was wrong to refuse his two children free school transport to their secondary school. We found no fault in the way the Council considered the decision to refuse transport and Mr B’s subsequent appeal. We cannot therefore question the merits of the Council’s decision.

Staffordshire County Council (20 010 985)

Report Upheld School transport 17-Aug-2021

Summary: Mrs J complained the Council refused to fund travel costs for her daughter K, to attend school. A Tribunal had decided attendance at that school was not unreasonable public expenditure. And there is no viable public transport route to the school. This means Mrs J has had to arrange her own transport to get K to school.

Norfolk County Council (20 003 718)

Statement Upheld School transport 12-Aug-2021

Summary: Mrs B complains that the Council should not have refused her daughter, C, transport to her preferred school, because it was the nearest suitable school given her medical condition. The Ombudsman has found no fault in the way the Council decided to refuse Mrs B’s request for transport and her subsequent appeals. However, the Council failed to set out the reasons for its decisions clearly and in detail following the second stage appeal. It has agreed to remind officers of the need to provide full and clear reasons for its decisions.

North Somerset Council (20 008 319)

Statement Upheld School transport 04-Aug-2021

Summary: There was fault by the Council in the way it considered an application for school transport made on SEN / mobility grounds. There was also delay in responding to the complaints / appeal so transport was not in place in time for the start of the school year. The Council will apologise, backdate transport payments and pay £100 for the complainant’s time and trouble.

East Sussex County Council (20 002 412)

Statement Upheld School transport 03-Aug-2021

Summary: the complainant complained the Council failed to properly consider the college named in her son’s EHC Plan as the closest suitable college when deciding an application for transport support. The Council accepted it should have considered the college in the EHC Plan as closest and considered a fresh application for transport support. We found the Council at fault in making its first decision. In offering an apology, considering a fresh appeal, and providing details on low-income mileage allowance scheme we found the Council offered a proportionate remedy.

Leicestershire County Council (20 008 672)

Statement Not upheld School transport 02-Aug-2021

Summary: Mrs B complains on behalf of Mr and Mrs X that the Council incorrectly measured the distance to their daughter’s school which led to the Council refusing their daughter’s free school transport application. They also complain about the Council’s refusal to refund all the school transport costs incurred because of its error. There was no evidence of fault in the way the Council made its decisions.

Luton Borough Council (20 009 310)

Statement Upheld School transport 23-Jul-2021

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to reimburse him for the full cost of transporting his child to and from school. The Council was not at fault in the way it decided not to backdate Mr X’s increased mileage payments. It was at fault for the delay in responding to his request. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to acknowledge the frustration this caused. The Council was also at fault when it conflated its complaints procedure and school transport appeal process. It has agreed to take action to prevent this fault recurring.

Leicestershire County Council (21 003 256)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 20-Jul-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to agree to the complainant’s request for the school transport to drop her child off at an after-school club several times a week. There is no evidence of fault in the way the Council made its decision.

Essex County Council (20 006 689)

Statement Not upheld School transport 08-Jul-2021

Summary: Mrs B complained that the Council had failed to deal correctly with her application for home to school transport for her son. We found no fault by the Council in this matter.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (21 001 905)

Statement Upheld School transport 06-Jul-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the handing of the complainant’s application for school transport for her daughter. The Council held a fresh appeal hearing which she attended. It has now agreed to provide school transport and refund the school travel costs incurred since the application was refused. We are satisfied with the Council’s action, so there is no need for an investigation.