Hampshire County Council (20 009 526)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 03-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the amount per mile the Council pays parents who transport their children to school. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

London Borough of Havering (19 016 908)

Statement Upheld School transport 02-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs S has complained about the way the Council responded to her request for school transport for her son, T, who has an Education and Health Care Plan and attends an out-of-borough school. The Ombudsman has found fault in the way the Council considered Mrs S’s response to the refusal of her school transport application. We consider that the actions already taken and proposed by the Council, together with the further agreed actions represent a suitable remedy for the injustice to Mrs S and T.

Essex County Council (20 001 298)

Statement Upheld School transport 01-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained about the way the Council dealt with her application and appeal for home to school transport for her daughter. The Council was not at fault in how it reached its decision, but it did not provide her with all the information she asked for. It has apologised for this oversight. The Council has agreed to review the information it provides when home to school distance is an issue in an appeal.

Essex County Council (20 005 439)

Statement Not upheld School transport 28-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s decision to refuse her application for school transport for her son. We do not find fault with the Council’s decision.

Derbyshire County Council (19 018 918)

Statement Upheld School transport 28-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs C complains the Council has refused to fund her daughter’s transport to college. She says this has caused injustice as she has had to pay. The Council was at fault. Its post-16 transport policy does not accord with the Government’s guidance. The Council has agreed to hold a fresh transport appeal and to revise its guidance.

Kent County Council (20 009 227)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 28-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to provide his son with free transport to school. This is because it is reasonable for Mr X to use the appeal rights available to him.

West Sussex County Council (20 001 844)

Statement Upheld School transport 21-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs B complains the Council has not properly considered her request for school transport assistance. She says the Council’s appeal policy does not follow statutory guidance and has led to delays in it considering her case. The Ombudsman finds fault in the Council’s appeal procedure, delays in its responses and assessment and in how it explained its decisions.

Leicestershire County Council (20 008 678)

Statement Upheld School transport 19-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Personal Transport Budget paid by the Council toward the cost of transporting her daughter to school. This is because the Council has now offered a higher payment which Mrs X says she is happy with. An investigation by the Ombudsman could not therefore achieve anything more.

East Sussex County Council (20 005 679)

Statement Not upheld School transport 12-Jan-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman has not found fault with the Council’s decision to refuse Miss W’s son free school transport. This is because the Council correctly considered the statutory guidance, and the Ombudsman cannot question the merits of a decision without fault.

East Sussex County Council (19 014 659)

Statement Upheld School transport 12-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms X complained that the Council failed to consider her application and appeal for home to school transport for her children properly. We do not find fault in the way the Council decided Ms X’s case. But we consider the Council’s current school transport policy is flawed in that it does not allow for people who would be disadvantaged by not being able to present an appeal through verbal representations to be able to do so. The Council is already reviewing its processes to address this issue. It has agreed to tell the Ombudsman the outcome and amend its policy.