Derby City Council (19 018 717)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 19-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about a lack of education to her child between 2015 and 2018. There are no good reasons why the late complaint rule should not apply.

Northumberland County Council (19 007 957)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 10-Mar-2020

Summary: Ms M complains her three youngest children have been out of school since June 2018. The Council is taking steps to ensure the children return to education. The Council proposes to respond to Ms M’s complaint once her children are back in education. If Ms M is unhappy with the Council’s response, she can complain to the Ombudsman again.

Surrey County Council (19 005 711)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 07-Feb-2020

Summary: The Council was at fault for failing to provide Y a suitable education when his anxiety meant he could not go to school. The Council has agreed to pay Miss X a financial remedy for the education that Y has missed. It will also remind staff of the responsibility to assess the academic needs of children unable to access education and where necessary provide alternative education.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (18 018 009)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 05-Feb-2020

Summary: There was fault by the Council in failing to provide education to a child who, due to anxiety and depression, could only attend school intermittently. There was also fault in the Council’s commissioning arrangements for alternative education and its advice to schools. This caused the complainants distress, loss of education and unnecessary legal fees. The complaint is upheld

Norfolk County Council (19 008 262)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 31-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s provision of alternative education when his daughter was absent from school for medical reasons. The Council was at fault for delays in arranging alternative provision. However, the education provided by the Council was suitable. The content of the work provided by the school is outside of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

Derbyshire County Council (19 001 142)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 17-Jan-2020

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to ensure her daughter, D, received a suitable education from February to July 2019 when she was not in school and failed to carry out her annual review according to the statutory timescales. The Council was at fault for not ensuring a suitable education for D from June to July 2019. It should make a financial payment to remedy the injustice this caused D. I have not investigated Ms X’s complaint that the Council failed to carry out D’s annual review within the statutory timescales.

Surrey County Council (19 004 969)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 11-Dec-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to provide suitable educational provision for her daughter and delayed in dealing with her complaint. Mrs X says this caused daughter to fall behind with her education and her behaviour to deteriorate. From the evidence provided, the Ombudsman finds fault with the Council as it failed to provide adequate educational provision for Mrs X’s daughter. The Council has agreed to the Ombudsman’s recommendations to remedy the injustice caused.

Birmingham City Council (18 018 161)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Dec-2019

Summary: Miss Y complained the Council failed to provide suitable full-time education to her child, D, who cannot attend school because of anxiety. The Council was at fault. It delayed ensuring D received a suitable education and so D has missed out on a year of school. The Council has agreed to make a payment to acknowledge the loss of education and ensure a suitable plan is in place for D’s education. It has also agreed to review its policies to ensure appropriate education is in place for those who are out of school for reasons other than illness.

Hampshire County Council (18 018 176)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 03-Dec-2019

Summary: Mr X complains that the Council failed to provide his son with education for four months and there were delays handling his complaint. He says this meant his son missed out on education and exacerbated his illness. He says he had to provide his son with education. He says this caused worry, stress and inconvenience. The Ombudsman does not find fault with the Council about the child missing education. However, the Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for delays in handling Mr X’s complaint. This caused Mr X injustice. We are satisfied with the action the Council has already taken to remedy this injustice.

Suffolk County Council (18 019 738)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 25-Nov-2019

Summary: fault by the Council meant B did not receive education for six weeks following his permanent exclusion from school.