Surrey County Council (21 004 460)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 23-Mar-2022

Summary: There was fault by the Council in complaint handling for which it has already apologised. We do not uphold a complaint about the Council changing the EHC plan in a way not intended by the Tribunal’s order.

Leicestershire County Council (21 015 623)

Statement Upheld School transport 22-Mar-2022

Summary: Mr B complains the Council removed a fare paying school bus service without consulting parents. Mr B says he relies on the service to get his child to school. He says the Council’s decision is having a significant financial impact as he needs to take time off work to take his child to school. The Ombudsman finds fault in the Council not consulting on the change and not reviewing its position following a further exemption.

Leicestershire County Council (21 006 763)

Statement Upheld School transport 22-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs B complains the Council removed a fare paying school bus service without consulting parents. Mrs B says she relies on the service to get her child to school and is now suffering significant financial loss due to having to work reduced hours. The Ombudsman finds fault in the Council not consulting on the change and not reviewing its position following a further exemption.

Leicestershire County Council (21 006 938)

Statement Upheld School transport 22-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs B complains the Council removed a fare paying school bus service without consulting parents. Mrs B says she relies on the service to get her child to school and has now had to change her working hours. The Ombudsman finds fault in the Council not consulting on the change and not reviewing its position following a further exemption.

Hampshire County Council (21 003 667)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Mar-2022

Summary: The complainant alleged that the Council delayed in completing the complainant’s son’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan which, in turn, delayed the son being placed in a suitable school. The complainant also complained that the Council failed to offer any interim alternative provision. We find the Council at fault on the first aspect and have recommended actions to remedy the injustice caused. But we do not find the Council at fault by not offering alternative education because the complainant decided to withdraw her son from school and home educate.

Northumberland County Council (21 004 239)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Mar-2022

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to regularly review her son, Y’s, Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), resulting in loss of support. We find the Council failed to ensure Y’s EHCP was reviewed when it should have been. We recommend the Council apologise, make payment for time, trouble, and uncertainty, and remedy any similar fault affecting others.

Liverpool City Council (21 000 731)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs G complained the Council failed to complete her son’s EHC Plan within the statutory timescales and secure his special educational provision. She also said it communicated poorly with her. The Council agreed it was at fault and provided a remedy to Mrs G. We found the Council’s remedy was not enough. It agreed to make a further payment to acknowledge the distress its faults caused Mrs G and her son’s loss of educational provision.

Gloucestershire County Council (21 006 693)

Statement Not upheld School transport 18-Mar-2022

Summary: Ms X complained about the Council’s decision to not provide her child with free school transport. There was no fault by the Council.

Surrey County Council (21 002 322)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 18-Mar-2022

Summary: Mrs D complained that the Council failed to provide sensory integration therapy to her son (B) as agreed at his annual review in June 2020, failed to explain the reasons for the failure, delayed in issuing the final amended EHC plan and failed to communicate clearly or promptly during this period. We found fault with the Council’s actions which has caused Mrs D and B frustration and time and trouble. The Council has agreed to increase its payment to Mrs D and makes a payment to B.

Birmingham City Council (20 006 959)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 18-Mar-2022

Summary: There was fault by the Council in failing to secure provision in an Education, Health and Care plan in 2020 and again in 2021. This led to lost special educational provision, distress and unnecessary time and trouble. Recommendations for an apology, financial payment and service improvements are made.