North Yorkshire County Council (20 007 815)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 12-Jan-2021

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to provide her son with free transport to school. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

Warwickshire County Council (19 015 116)

Statement Not upheld School transport 07-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision to refuse his application for school transport for his daughter. There is no fault in the way the Council reached its decision.

East Sussex County Council (20 002 107)

Statement Upheld School transport 14-Dec-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s decision to decline her travel assistance application for her son. She says the Council did not properly consider the available information and did not properly consider the financial cost of paying for a person to drive her son to college. She also complains about delays in the Council considering her appeal. We find fault with the Council for making an assumption about the miles per gallon a wheelchair accessible vehicle could achieve. The Council has provided a suitable remedy and no further remedy is appropriate as there is no ongoing injustice.

Rutland County Council (19 017 675)

Statement Not upheld School transport 11-Dec-2020

Summary: The complainant, Mrs Y, says the Council’s Home to School Transport policy is unclear and poorly worded. As a result, she was unaware that her two children, who both have Special Educational Needs (SEN), were eligible for transport assistance. The Ombudsman finds no fault with the policies in question. When read in full, the policies provide enough information to allow parents to enquire about, or apply for, transport assistance.

Buckinghamshire County Council (20 001 466)

Statement Upheld School transport 08-Dec-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for failing to provide C with transport to school. This caused C’s mother, Mrs B, an injustice because she had to transport C to and from school. The Council agrees actions to remedy the injustice to Mrs B.

Essex County Council (19 016 753)

Statement Upheld School transport 01-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council dealt with his appeal for school transport for his son. The Council was at fault as its appeals process did not allow for parents to put their case in person or by telephone at the second stage. The Council has amended its policy to allow for this since it dealt with Mr X’s appeal. The Council has agreed to review its decision at stage two under the amended policy and give Mr X the opportunity to make oral representations.

Westminster City Council (19 017 968)

Statement Upheld School transport 27-Nov-2020

Summary: Miss B says the Council failed to properly consider her application for transport assistance for her daughter. The Council failed to follow its own policy and Government guidance when considering Miss B’s appeal. That means Miss B cannot be satisfied the Council properly considered her appeal. A further appeal and review of the Council’s travel assistance policy is satisfactory remedy.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (20 002 401)

Statement Not upheld School transport 24-Nov-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council did not fully consider the circumstances of her application for school transport for her daughter. She says the Council’s decision was based on the potential cost of travel rather than the reasons she provided. Mrs X says the Council’s actions caused her unnecessary distress and upset and have been time consuming to deal with. We have discontinued this investigation because Mrs X has started court proceedings against the Council regarding the same matter.

Suffolk County Council (20 005 492)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 24-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr and Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s decision not to provide their daughter with free transport to school. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (20 005 576)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 23-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about how the Council has considered her application and appeal for transport to school for her son. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council and so we cannot question the merits of its decisions.