London Borough of Hounslow (19 019 418)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 01-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to properly provide for Y’s education when she told it she no longer wanted to educate him at home. The Council was at fault for delays in reviewing Y’s Education, Health and Care plan and for failing to provide alternative education to Y while he was out of school. This meant Y was without suitable education for a year and caused Mrs X unnecessary stress, time and trouble. We recommend the Council makes a payment to Mrs X and to Y and makes service improvements to prevent the fault occurring again.

Oxfordshire County Council (20 002 153)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 29-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X complained the Council took too long to issue his daughter’s, Miss Y’s, Education Health and Care plans and failed to arrange alternative education for her after she could not attend school because of health problems. We find the Council was at fault causing Miss Y to miss 25 weeks of education and causing avoidable distress for Mr X and his family. The Council has agreed to pay Mr X £250 to remedy this distress and review its policy on pupils unable to attend school because of ill health.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (20 007 922)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 29-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr X complained about being given wrong information about a residential education placement and about recording conversations with Council staff. We should not investigate because there is not enough outstanding injustice to warrant our investigation.

Derbyshire County Council (18 014 369)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs B complained that the Council failed to provide education for her son, C, since 2016. We find the Council made reasonable efforts to provide education since 2018 and made a backdated payment to recognise the impact on C. The Council delayed in responding to Mrs B’s complaint which caused frustration and time and trouble. The Council has agreed to pay Mrs B £150.

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.

Hertfordshire County Council (20 009 543)

Statement Upheld Other 28-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council gave wrong information to the complainant about free school meals. This is because the Council has provided an appropriate response and there is not enough injustice to require an investigation.

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.

Milton Keynes Council (18 017 556)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs B complained the Council failed to provide education to meet her son’s needs as specified in his Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). She said that as a result her son missed education. There was fault in the delay by the Council which caused injustice to Mrs B and her son. The Council agreed to apologise and to make a payment.

Hampshire County Council (20 002 251)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council delayed carrying out an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment and finalising the related EHC Plan for her son, B. The Ombudsman finds the Council at fault. The delays meant B missed out on certain educational provision. Mrs X incurred costs connected with the time and trouble she was put to chasing the Council. To remedy the injustice caused to Mrs X and B, the Council has agreed to apologise to them, and make a payment to reflect the injustice caused to Mrs X and B by the fault.