Liverpool City Council (21 018 303)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 30-Mar-2022

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s assessment of the complainant’s daughter’s needs. This is because he has used his right to appeal to a tribunal and this places the matter outside our jurisdiction.

Birmingham City Council (21 008 018)

Statement Upheld School transport 29-Mar-2022

Summary: the Council was at fault in avoidably delaying for six months in arranging an appeal at stage 2 of the transport appeals process. This fault caused Ms B injustice in the form of frustration, uncertainty and time and trouble as she had to complain to this office to have the matter resolved. The Council will take the agreed action to recognise this injustice and to avoid repeating the same faults in future.

Leicestershire County Council (21 009 579)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to put in place education, health and care provision for Y, as set out in his plan. She also complained the Council failed to provide suitable education for Y was he was not attending school. This meant Y missed out on educational provision. We found fault with the Council. The Council agreed actions to remedy the injustice to Y.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (21 007 207)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complains the Council failed to review her son’s Education, Health and Care plan for three years, failed to put provision in place and failed to consult schools when requested. There was some delay and administrative fault by the Council but this did not affect Ms X’s son’s education. Ms X and the Council disagreed about the type of education to be provided which was a matter for the SEND Tribunal to resolve. An apology and modest remedy payment were recommended but declined by Ms X.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (21 011 321)

Statement Not upheld Special educational needs 29-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complained the Council delayed issuing her daughter’s final Education Health Care Plan following an annual review. Ms X has appealed to Tribunal. We have discontinued our investigation. It is not possible to determine the level of injustice caused by the Council’s alleged fault until the Tribunal has reached a decision

Cheshire East Council (21 012 628)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Mar-2022

Summary: The Council failed to provide the IT equipment and software listed in Ms X’s child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. This has negatively affected her son’s education. The Council has agreed to apologise, provide the items needed and make a symbolic financial payment to Ms X. It has also agreed to put in place appropriate training for staff to prevent this happening in future.

Blackburn with Darwen Council (21 018 147)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 29-Mar-2022

Summary: A parent complained about the school admission appeal panel’s decision to turn down her appeal concerning a school place for her son. But we will not investigate this matter as there is not enough evidence of fault by the panel.

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.