Hampshire County Council (21 002 583)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Mar-2022

Summary: The Council failed to properly monitor Ms X’s son’s, Z’s, alternative education package while he was educated outside of school. This caused frustration, uncertainty and time and trouble. The Council has agreed to our recommendations for a financial remedy and service improvements. The Council was not at fault for the length of time it took to find Z a new school place.

Surrey County Council (21 008 922)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council delayed making changes to her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) causing distress, putting her to time and trouble and resulting in her son missing the start of school. We found the Council at fault in its review of Y’s EHCP. We recommended it provided Mrs X with an apology, payment for distress, payment for time and trouble and act to prevent recurrence.

Liverpool City Council (21 017 554)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 28-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X's complaint about the Council’s special education needs team’s actions. We will not get involved with the Tribunal’s actions and it is unlikely we would find fault in the Council’s decision to consult the child’s mother.

Hampshire County Council (21 004 269)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Mar-2022

Summary: The complainant alleged that the Council delayed in issuing his granddaughter’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan and has failed to provide suitable education. The Council has accepted fault and has accepted the recommended ways to remedy the resulting injustice. We are therefore closing the complaint.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council (21 005 739)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Mar-2022

Summary: Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council was at fault in relation to Ms B’s complaints about the provision of handwriting support and that its handling of part of Ms B’s complaint to the Council was avoidably delayed. It will apologise to Ms B.

West Northamptonshire Council (21 018 840)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 27-Mar-2022

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of a Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal process. The matters complained of are not separable from the conduct of the process.

Kent County Council (21 006 802)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs K complains about a lack of suitable education being provided to her son (Child X) who has special educational needs. Mrs K also complains the Council failed to identify a suitable school placement for Child X and has not updated his Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP). We found the Council used reasonable endeavours to find an alternative school placement for Child X. However, for some of the period Child X was out of school, the Council failed to provide him with suitable education, as required by law. For other periods, we have no jurisdiction to investigate because Mrs K could have reasonably appealed the issue of Child X’s school placement to a Tribunal. We do consider both Mrs K and Child X have suffered an injustice by reason of the Council’s failings and the Council has agreed to remedy this.

Surrey County Council (21 011 049)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Mar-2022

Summary: There was delay in an EHC needs assessment which delayed the issue of a final EHC plan. This in turn delayed when a child could receive the special educational provision they required. The Council will apologise and make a financial payment to acknowledge the impact of the delay.

Kent County Council (21 012 499)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Mar-2022

Summary: Miss X complained the Council delayed finalising her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan causing distress and financial loss. We found the Council at fault. We recommended the Council provide Miss X with an apology and payment for distress, and act to prevent recurrence.

Hampshire County Council (21 003 673)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs Y complained the Council failed to complete the review of her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan within the statutory timescale, failed to arrange special educational provision and delayed a personal budget payment. We have found fault by the Council in failing to meet the statutory timescale for the review, and delay with the personal budget payment. The Council has agreed to remedy these faults by apologising, making a payment to reflect Mrs Y’s time and trouble and a service improvement.