Oxfordshire County Council (19 016 987)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 29-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs B’s complaint that the Council has refused to reimburse costs she incurred due to its failure to provide her child with education. This is because Mrs B has used her right to appeal to a tribunal.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (19 016 799)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 29-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about the process leading to the production of an Education Health and Care Plan for his son. This is because one key aspect of the complaint is late, and the other concerns matters which fall outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

Westminster City Council (19 016 784)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to reimburse Mrs X’s costs incurred as part of a Tribunal hearing. This is because the complainant could have applied to the Tribunal for costs and it would have been reasonable to expect her to do so.

Staffordshire County Council (18 011 415)

Statement Not upheld Special educational needs 28-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman has decided to stop investigating this complaint about the Council’s decision to reduce the amount it will pay for Mrs X’s son to have Speech and Language Therapy. During our investigation, the Council agreed to continue paying for Mrs X’s son to see the same Speech and Language Therapist. This was the outcome sought by Mrs X, and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Somerset County Council (19 018 406)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Feb-2020

Summary: Miss X complains her son, Z, has suffered injustice as a result of delay by the Council found in a previous investigation. A SEND Tribunal has now decided Z’s needs and it is clear he missed out on provision. Miss X also lost the opportunity to benefit earlier from provision ordered after a delayed assessment. The Council will apologise and pay Miss X £600.

Bristol City Council (19 014 236)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 27-Feb-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about an Education Health and Care Plan the Council produced for her child. She appealed to the Tribunal and we cannot investigate issues appealed to the Tribunal.

Kent County Council (19 000 955)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-Feb-2020

Summary: There is fault in Kent County Council’s handling of Mr B’s son’s educational provision and meeting his special educational needs under an Education, Health and Care Plan. This fault has resulted in injustice. The Council will take the agreed action, which includes making an apology and a payment, to recognise and remedy this injustice and will also review its practice and procedures to improve future services

Liverpool City Council (19 004 395)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-Feb-2020

Summary: Ms X complains the Council has failed to identify or offer appropriate education for her son. The Council’s failure to provide Y with alternative educational provision for an academic year amounts to fault. The delays in the annual review process and the failure to issue a final ECHP also amount to fault. These faults have caused Ms X and Y an injustice.

Nottinghamshire County Council (19 004 624)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-Feb-2020

Summary: There were some administrative errors by the Council in the way it updated an Education, Health and Care Plan and sought to identify a new school. Service improvements to prevent recurrence of these errors have been made.

Surrey County Council (18 013 795)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-Feb-2020

Summary: Ms X and Ms Y complained about delay by the Council in finding a school place for their son after agreeing his mainstream school was no longer suitable, and in issuing a final Education Health and Care Plan. There was delay caused by faulty consultation with schools and delay in carrying out a re-assessment of needs. The Council has agreed a suitable a remedy to recognise the loss of education, frustration, anxiety and distress this caused.