Milton Keynes Council (19 020 623)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-Mar-2021

Summary: We upheld Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her daughter Y’s education, health and care (EHC) plan and education provision. The Council delayed holding a review and arranging alternative provision for Y. There were also errors in the way it amended Y’s plan before she moved to secondary school. The Council will apologise, make a payment to Miss X and Y to remedy the injustice caused, and review how it amends plans when children move between primary and secondary school.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (19 002 856)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 01-Mar-2021

Summary: We upheld Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her daughter’s education, health and care plan. The Council caused delays, demonstrated unprofessional practice, and failed to secure the provision Mrs X’s daughter required. The Council will apologise and make a payment to recognise the distress and frustration it caused Mrs X, and the loss of provision for her daughter. It will also take action to improve its service to other families.

Milton Keynes Council (19 020 371)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 01-Mar-2021

Summary: We upheld Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of his son D’s education, health and care plan. The Council failed to secure the provision in the plan while D was out of school. It also delayed in reviewing the plan when D moved into the area and finalising an amended plan. This caused uncertainty and frustration for Mr X. The Council will apologise and make a payment to Mr X and D. It will also remind staff of the timescales for reviewing and amending plans.

Derby City Council (20 007 253)

Statement Upheld School admissions 01-Mar-2021

Summary: The Council is at fault for withdrawing an offer of a place for Ms X’s child at her preferred school when she moved to a new house. The Council failed to establish the relevant facts and apply its Admissions Policy to Ms X’s case. The appeal panel failed to consider if the policy was properly applied. The Council should re-offer the place.

Bracknell Forest Council (20 002 959)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council delayed in issuing the final Education, Health and Care (ECH) plan for her son. She also complains the Council failed to provide suitable full-time education for her son after she stopped home education. We find fault with the Council. We have made recommendations.

St Bede's Catholic High School, Ormskirk (20 002 466)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 26-Feb-2021

Summary: Miss X complained that the independent appeal panel which heard her appeal for a place at the School for her son did not allow her to attend a remote hearing and did not consider her evidence properly. We find there was fault by the appeal panel in the way it considered the appeal. The School has agreed to offer a fresh hearing.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (20 004 507)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-Feb-2021

Summary: There was an eleven month delay in issuing an EHC plan. While the Council has accepted fault and offered a financial remedy, this is lower than the Ombudsman would usually recommend. A recommendation to increase the payment is made.

London Borough of Redbridge (20 001 280)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 25-Feb-2021

Summary: the complainant complained the Council did not give proper notice of a change in its schools’ admissions policy and failed to properly consider his application for a school place. The Council said it amended the policy following an adjudication by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator and its appeals panel properly considered the appeal against the decision on the application. We find the Council acted without fault.

Lancashire County Council (20 002 848)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 24-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her son, F, with suitable education following his permanent exclusion from school in March 2019. She also complained the Council delayed issuing F’s Education, Health and Care Plan and delayed approving his post-16 placement. The Council provided F with suitable alternative provision in line with the law following his exclusion from school. It was at fault for failing to issue F’s Education, Health and Care Plan in line with statutory timescales and for failing to name his post-16 placement before the start of the academic term. The Council agreed to apologise and pay Mrs X £300 to acknowledge F’s loss of educational opportunity between September and November 2020. It also agreed to pay Mrs X £100 to acknowledge the frustration and time and trouble the matter caused her.

West Berkshire Council (20 002 957)

Statement Not upheld School admissions 24-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs C says the Council is at fault for a failure to enforce its school admissions policy by carrying out checks to ensure children applying for places at a local school were eligible. As a result, Mrs C says she and her child, X, suffered injustice as Mrs C was refused a place at the school despite living in the catchment area. The Council was not at fault. The Council made reasonable checks to ensure applicants met the admissions criteria and the appeal panel applied national and Council policies correctly.