London Borough of Lewisham (19 017 514)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 09-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council’s Special Educational Needs Local Offer does not comply with the Council’s obligations and is unlawful. This is because any injustice to him flows from a decision about which it would have been reasonable for him to use his right to appeal to a tribunal.

Lincolnshire County Council (19 017 969)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 07-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Ms B’s complaint that the Council has failed to explain why it ignored professional advice when completing her son’s Education Health and Care Plan. This is because she has used her right to appeal against the content of the Plan.

Derbyshire County Council (18 017 742)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Mar-2020

Summary: There were delays in the way the Council dealt with requests in relation to the special educational needs of Mrs X’s children and in the complaint process. This caused unnecessary inconvenience, time and trouble to Mrs X. Recommendations for an apology and a payment to acknowledge the impact of the fault are made.

Hartlepool Borough Council (19 012 292)

Statement Not upheld School transport 06-Mar-2020

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to properly consider his request for a concessionary bus pass for his son, Y. The Council was not at fault.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (19 017 428)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 06-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council ended her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because Mrs X has appealed to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. Mrs X also complains the Council responded to her Subject Access Request poorly. The Ombudsman will not consider this complaint further as it is unlikely investigation would achieve anything more for Mrs X.

Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (19 007 038)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 05-Mar-2020

Summary: Mrs B complained that the Council failed to ensure therapies detailed in her daughter, C’s Education, Health and Care plan were provided. We find the Council delayed by three months in providing speech and language therapy and failed to provide any sensory integration therapy. The Council has agreed to provide sessions to make up for the missing therapies and pay Mrs B £500.

Kent County Council (19 010 591)

Statement Not upheld School transport 05-Mar-2020

Summary: Miss A complains the Council and appeal panel were at fault regarding her school transport appeal. The Ombudsman finds no evidence of fault.

Suffolk County Council (19 005 771)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 04-Mar-2020

Summary: the Council is at fault in failing to ensure that full speech and language support detailed in Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan was not provided between January and June 2019. This caused Y injustice that the Council will recognise by apologising and making a payment of £600. The Council also failed to amend Y’s this Plan following an annual review in May. This amounts to fault but this did not cause injustice.

Gloucestershire County Council (19 011 962)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 04-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the involvement of the Council with the complainants’ children. This is because the substantive complaint is made late and there are no good reasons to exercise the Ombudsman’s discretion to investigate it now. Other issues are previously decided or are out of jurisdiction.

Cheshire East Council (19 015 811)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 04-Mar-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot investigate this complaint about the production and content of an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This is because it cannot investigate complaints about schools or matters that are under appeal to a tribunal. The Ombudsman will not investigate other parts of the complaint as there is insufficient evidence of injustice or of fault by the Council.