Birmingham City Council (20 008 519)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 11-Jan-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council gave wrong advice to a parent and mishandled her application for a school place for her child. This is because the school the parent applied for is an academy.

Somerset County Council (18 010 275)

Report Upheld Special educational needs 08-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms X complains of failures by the Council to meet her son, Mr Z’s special educational and care needs, causing significant distress to her family. While there was no fault in the SEN matter, the Council failed to properly consider the safeguarding risks to Mr Z’s younger siblings repeatedly raised by Ms X. This went on for almost three years, causing her distress and leading to the younger siblings suffering repeated unprovoked violent assaults by Mr Z, who was much larger than them, as well as fear of further attacks.

Northamptonshire County Council (19 005 571)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 08-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs X complains about the Council’s handling of her son, Y’s special educational needs. We have not found fault with the Council’s handling and consider Mrs X could have exercised her appeal rights to the Tribunal about the content of Y’s Education, Health and Care Plans. The Council took just over month longer than it should to finalise Y’s Post-16 review, but this was not a fault that caused significant injustice to warrant a personal remedy.

East Sussex County Council (19 017 372)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 08-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council failed to put in place the social care support set out in her daughter’s Education Health and Care Plan following a Tribunal decision in November 2018. We have found fault in the way the Council dealt with the matter. The Council has agreed a suitable remedy to make up for support sessions missed.

Trafford Council (20 008 462)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 08-Jan-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs B’s complaint that the Council was at fault in its management of her son’s transition to secondary education. This is because Mrs B used her right to appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal, and this places the matter outside our jurisdiction.

Buckinghamshire County Council (19 020 940)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 07-Jan-2021

Summary: Mr A complains the Council has delayed issuing an Education, Health and Care Plan for his son, C, and so he has lost out on support that should have been provided. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for delaying reviewing and issuing the Plan for 19 months. The Ombudsman also finds fault with the Council for failing to provide information from the Plan, failing to consider the request for a personal budget, and for poor complaint handling. The Council has agreed to make a payment in recognition of lost provision, and for the distress caused to Mr A. The Council will also review how it monitors annual reviews and requests for personal budgets.

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.

Durham County Council (19 020 117)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Jan-2021

Summary: There was fault by the Council in failing to secure part of the special educational provision provided for in an EHC plan and in failing to respond to concerns alerting it to the fact provision was not fully in place. The Council will apologise, pay a financial remedy and make service improvements.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (20 008 446)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 06-Jan-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss B’s complaint about the actions of her son’s school regarding a disciplinary matter. This is because the law prevents us from investigating what happens in schools.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (20 004 297)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 06-Jan-2021

Summary: Miss Q complained an independent appeals panel had failed to properly consider her appeal for a school place for her daughter, R. This had caused the family significant distress. The investigation found no evidence of fault.