Redcar & Cleveland Council (20 009 561)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 08-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about court action because of her daughter’s non-attendance at school. This is because we cannot consider complaints about what happened in court.

London Borough of Lambeth (20 009 607)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 08-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mr B’s complaint that the Council is at fault in failing to secure educational provision for his daughter. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault on the Council’s part.

Leeds City Council (20 003 940)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 05-Feb-2021

Summary: there was no fault in the way an Independent Appeal Panel made its decision not to admit Ms M’s daughter to a secondary school.  The Ombudsman cannot question decisions made without fault.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (20 004 661)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 05-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr Q complained an independent appeals panel had failed to properly consider his appeal for a school place for his son, R. This had caused the family significant distress. There is evidence of fault but not that caused injustice to Mr Q.

St George's CoE School (Broadstairs) (20 001 277)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 05-Feb-2021

Summary: We upheld Miss X’s complaint about an unsuccessful school appeal for her son. While there was no fault in the Admission Authority’s approach to holding appeals, there were errors in its record keeping and decision letter. This caused uncertainty for Miss X about how the panel reached its decision. The Admission Authority agreed to apologise to Miss X and remind clerks of the requirements for note taking and decision letters.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (20 010 867)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 04-Feb-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Miss B’s complaint that the Council is at fault in refusing her appeal for a school place for her son. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault on the Council’s part.

Liverpool City Council (20 005 350)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 04-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs C complains about the review of her son’s Education Health and Care (EHC) plan. She disagrees with the school the Council named on the final EHC plan. We stopped investigating the complaint because it is reasonable for Mrs C to use her right of appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal to challenge the Council’s decision.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (20 000 861)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Feb-2021

Summary: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council failed to properly investigate the concerns Mr and Mrs B expressed about the conduct of a mentor who visited their daughter in January. It then failed to properly address their complaint about this under its complaints procedures. The Council will now apologise and take action to remedy the injustice caused.

Essex County Council (20 001 987)

Statement Upheld School transport 04-Feb-2021

Summary: Miss X complained about the way the Council dealt with her application and appeal for home to school transport for her son and that the Council’s appeals system did not follow national guidance. We find that the appeal system was flawed at the time the Council considered Miss X’s appeal, but this is unlikely to have affected the decision. There were gaps in the information provided to Miss X that would have helped her in her appeal. The Council has agreed to review the information it provides.

London Borough of Croydon (20 002 682)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 04-Feb-2021

Summary: The Council was at fault for delays in issuing a decision following an Annual Review and for providing the final Education Health and Care Plan, meaning Ms X had to wait longer to exercise her appeal rights. The Council was also at fault for the way it handled the complaint. The Council has agreed to remedy the injustice caused.