Halton Borough Council (19 014 562)

Statement Upheld School transport 30-Sep-2020

Summary: Mrs B complains that the Council was wrong to refuse home to school transport for her son, C, to the voluntary-aided Church of England secondary school that he attends. The Ombudsman considers that parts of the Council’s policy are unclear and that the Council should review its policy and the information it provides to parents. We also consider that there were some flaws in the appeals process. However, we do not consider that this affected the Council’s decision that C was not eligible for transport or its decision not to exercise discretion to disapply its policy and provide transport for C.

Birmingham City Council (19 018 718)

Statement Upheld School transport 29-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision not to provide his son with travel assistance to college. The Council is at fault in how it reached its decision as it did not consider if it was reasonable for Mr X’s son to use public transport as he has autism and learning difficulties. As a result, Mr X cannot be certain the Council properly considered his application and appeal. The Council has agreed to remedy this injustice by reconsidering Mr X’s appeal.

Suffolk County Council (20 002 986)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 28-Sep-2020

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

Lancashire County Council (20 003 398)

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

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council is at fault in using an amended school bus route which places pedestrians in danger. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault on the Council’s part.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (19 016 401)

Statement Not upheld School transport 23-Sep-2020

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to put in place suitable home to school transport for his child, F, between January 2019 and March 2020. I discontinued this investigation. This was because F has alternative home to school transport arrangement in place and the Council offered Mr X a package to compensate him for taking F to and from school during that period. Further investigation by me would unlikely achieve anything further for Mr X.

Essex County Council (20 000 765)

Statement Not upheld School transport 22-Sep-2020

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s decision to refuse to provide transport for her son to attend college. The Ombudsman has discontinued his investigation as the Council has now offered transport and the complaint has been resolved.

East Sussex County Council (19 015 041)

Statement Upheld School transport 18-Sep-2020

Summary: Miss X complains the Council did not tell her that naming a specific college in her son’s Education, Health and Care plan would affect his transport assistance eligibility. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council’s decision that Miss X’s application did not meet the gateway criteria to be assessed for transport assistance. We also find fault with the way the Council considered Miss X’s transport application and with the Council’s post 16 SEND travel assistance policy.

London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (19 006 821)

Statement Upheld School transport 17-Sep-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman finds fault with the way the Council handled Miss B’s appeal about changes to child C’s travel assistance. The agreed actions remedy the injustice caused to Miss B.

Leeds City Council (19 019 971)

Statement Upheld School transport 16-Sep-2020

Summary: There was fault by the Council in the way it considered a home to school transport application made on SEN/mobility grounds which, on the balance of probabilities, led to transport being wrongly refused. This has caused injustice and inconvenience to the family. Recommendations for an individual remedy and service improvements are made.

Suffolk County Council (20 002 725)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 16-Sep-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council considered her application and appeal for transport to school for her daughter. This is because there is no evidence of fault by the Council in the way it made its decision and so we cannot question the merits of its decision.