Gloucestershire County Council (20 009 654)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 26-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint that the Council’s Schools Admissions Appeal Panel failed to provide her child with a place at School Z. It is unlikely the Ombudsman would find fault which caused her to lose out on a school place.

Buckinghamshire County Council (19 011 528)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs X complains that the Council failed to ensure therapies and assessments detailed in her son, D’s, Education, Health and Care Plan were provided. The Ombudsman finds there was avoidable delay, missed provision for D and time and trouble caused to Mrs X in chasing this up. We have made recommendations for an apology, financial remedy and service improvements.

London Borough of Newham (19 014 640)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 22-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms E complained the Council failed to provide her son with the provision required in his Education, Health and Care plan. She also complained the Council failed to respond to her complaints about the matter. We find the Council was at fault by not providing Ms E with a realistic timescale of when it would complete the agreed points to resolve her complaint. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms E for the injustice caused to her.

St Augustine's RC High School, Clitheroe (20 002 519)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 21-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr and Mrs B complained the admissions authority did not carry out their son’s school placement appeal correctly and it was refused. This caused the family distress. We found fault with the admissions authority causing injustice. The admissions authority has agreed to apologise to Mr and Mrs B to remedy this injustice.

Our Lady's Bishop Eton Catholic Primary School (20 002 694)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 21-Jan-2021

Summary: Miss X complained about how the School considered her child’s admissions application and appeal and managed its waiting list. The School and admissions appeal panel were not at fault.

St Augustine's RC High School, Clitheroe (20 002 695)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 21-Jan-2021

Summary: Miss B complained the admissions authority did not carry out her son’s school placement appeal correctly and it was refused. We found fault with the admissions authority causing injustice. The admissions authority has agreed to apologise and offer a fresh appeal to remedy this injustice.

Buckinghamshire Council (20 008 651)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 21-Jan-2021

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to provide for her child’s special educational needs. It is unlikely we would find fault.

Cornwall Council (19 008 091)

Report Upheld Alternative provision 21-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr F’s son, B, suffers from anxiety. Mr F complained the Council did not provide education for B when he was unable to attend school due to illness. B missed education because of a flaw in the service designed by the Council to fulfil its duties to children unable to attend school. The Council “outsourced” its responsibilities to schools and did not retain sufficient oversight and control. This meant the Council was either unaware or not in a position to act when things went wrong.  The Council relied on B’s school to make decisions about B’s education. When attempts to secure B’s return to school failed, the Council should have arranged suitable education for him. The service designed by the Council failed. B was without education for four months as a result.

King David High School, Liverpool (20 001 119)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 21-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs Q complained an independent appeals panel had failed to properly consider her appeal for a school place for her son, R. This had caused the family significant distress. The investigation found evidence of fault and the school has agreed to hold a fresh appeal.

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.