Leeds City Council (19 009 423)

Statement Not upheld School transport 31-Jan-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s decision to end her son’s entitlement to home to school transport and how it conducted her unsuccessful appeal about this. The Ombudsman has found some fault because it referred to the wrong criteria in reaching its decision. But this fault did not affect the outcome and so there was no injustice to Mrs X.

London Borough of Croydon (19 014 523)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 31-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to provide help with her son’s school transport. This is because the complaint is late and there is no reason Miss X could not have complained earlier.

Hampshire County Council (19 001 169)

Statement Upheld School transport 29-Jan-2020

Summary: The Council failed to have a policy in place that complied with relevant legislation with regard to home to school transport for young people of sixth form age. As a result Ms F’s application for home to school transport to enable her 18 year old son to attend the college named on his Education, Health and Social Care Plan was refused and this resulted in him missing out on two terms of education for which transport should have been provided. The Council has already amended its policies and will now apologise and pay Ms F £5100 to recognise the injustice this caused her and her son. It will also review and take action to remedy similar injustice caused by the same fault to other applicants.

Worcestershire County Council (19 006 385)

Statement Upheld School transport 29-Jan-2020

Summary: There was fault and a failure to follow the local policy and statutory guidance when the Council considered an application for home to school transport. This caused unnecessary confusion, time and trouble to Mr and Mrs X. The Council will offer a fresh appeal, make a time and trouble payment and apologise to Mr and Mrs X. It will also review its complaint and appeal processes.

East Sussex County Council (18 012 500)

Report Upheld School transport 20-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision to provide home to college transport for his adult learner son, Mr A, for four days a week instead of five days. Mr X says the Council considered irrelevant information when it made its decision.

Staffordshire County Council (19 013 739)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 18-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs B’s complaint that the Council is at fault in refusing her application and appeal for free school transport for her daughter. This because it is unlikely we would find fault on the Council’s part.

Warrington Council (19 010 320)

Statement Upheld School transport 10-Jan-2020

Summary: Mr X complains the Council failed to properly consider his request and appeal for home to school transport for his sister Ms X, who is disabled. The Ombudsman has discontinued his investigation because the Council has now agreed to provide transport for Ms X.

Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council (18 012 581)

Statement Upheld School transport 10-Jan-2020

Summary: There was fault by the Council in failing to update an Education, Health and Care plan when a child moved from primary to secondary school; failing to apply the correct legal test to decide whether transport should be funded to the parental preference school; and failing to provide a full explanation to parents and a right of appeal when transport was refused. This caused injustice and uncertainty about what the outcome would have been had the fault not occurred. Recommendations for an apology, a financial payment and service improvements are made.

City of York Council (19 006 371)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 09-Jan-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the provision of support for education transport for the complainant’s daughter. This is because there is no evidence of fault in the way the Council’s appeal panel considered the complainant’s appeal against its decision.

Birmingham City Council (19 000 748)

Statement Upheld School transport 08-Jan-2020

Summary: the Council failed to deal properly with Mrs X’s request for transport assistance for her son and her appeal. The Ombudsman finds there was fault by the Council due to delays and poor communication. The Council has now agreed transport assistance from 2018. The Council has agreed also agreed our recommendation that it should also pay Mrs X £150 due to its delays and putting her to time and trouble.