Cheshire East Council (20 009 764)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 05-Aug-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to secure the provision of the Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) assessment specified in her son, Mr S’s, Education, Health and Care Plan and delayed putting into place transport arrangements to college which then proved to be unsuitable. The Council was at fault when it delayed in ensuring the SaLT assessment took place. This caused Mrs X and Mr S an injustice. The Council should make a financial payment to recognise this. There was no fault in the transport arrangements the Council put into place or the timing of those arrangements.

Hampshire County Council (20 000 632)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 03-Aug-2021

Summary: We upheld Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council has handled her daughter Y’s education, health and care provision. There was fault in the Council’s approach to Y’s annual reviews and preparation for adulthood. The Council also failed to explain what provision would be delivered when colleges closed to most learners in response to COVID-19. These faults caused an injustice to Mrs X and Y, and the Council agreed to take action to remedy this.

Suffolk County Council (21 002 718)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Covid-19 20-Jul-2021

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the accuracy of the Council’s risk assessment guidance to schools. We cannot investigate the internal management of schools.

London Borough of Lambeth (20 001 515)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 19-Jul-2021

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to ensure her nephew, Mr N, received some of the provision specified in his Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. The Council was at fault when it failed to ensure some of the special educational provision in Mr N’s EHC Plan was provided. This led to Mr N missing out on support he required and caused Ms X distress and frustration. The Council was also at fault in the way it handled Ms X’s complaint. It has agreed to apologise, pay Ms X and Mr N £4,000 and make service changes.

Lancashire County Council (20 006 885)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 16-Jul-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained about fault in the arrangements for the school admission appeal for her daughter. The Council was not at fault as the reasons for its actions were related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the temporary rules that applied. We do not find fault in the appeal panel’s decision-making.

Madani Boy's School (20 009 146)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 16-Jul-2021

Summary: Mr X complains there was fault in how an appeal panel considered his appeal for a place for his son at Madani Boys School. This was a fresh appeal following a previous Ombudsman’s investigation. We consider there is fault in how the appeal panel considered Mr X’s appeal as it did not consider his appeal on the basis of the original papers which disadvantaged him. The School has agreed to remedy this injustice by arranging a further fresh appeal with a different appeal panel and clerk.

Lancashire County Council (20 006 790)

Statement Upheld Covid-19 08-Jul-2021

Summary: Miss X complained about the arrangements for the independent admission appeal hearing for her son under the temporary COVID-19 rules. She also complained that the appeal panel did not consider the information she provided about her son’s medical condition properly. We have found that the delays in dealing with the appeal were not due to fault by the Council, but there was fault in the panel’s decision-making causing her uncertainty about its outcome. The Council has agreed to offer Miss X a fresh appeal.

Staffordshire County Council (20 007 506)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 08-Jul-2021

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained about the Council’s decision to suspend its vacant seat scheme on home to school transport during the COVID-19 pandemic. This means they have to transport their son to school. We find that the Council was not at fault in how it reached its decision. It acted in line with Government advice and guidance.

Kent County Council (20 003 409)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 15-Jun-2021

Summary: We did not uphold a complaint by four parents about the Council’s decision not to refund the cost of travel passes they bought for their children to get to school. The parents say they were unable to use the passes from March to July 2020 when schools were closed because of COVID-19. There was no evidence of fault in the Council’s decision to offer a goodwill payment instead of a refund.

Kent County Council (20 003 756)

Statement Not upheld Covid-19 15-Jun-2021

Summary: We did not uphold a complaint by four parents about the Council’s decision not to refund the cost of travel passes they bought for their children to get to school. The parents say they were unable to use the passes from March to July 2020 when schools were closed because of COVID-19. There was no evidence of fault in the Council’s decision to offer a goodwill payment instead of a refund.