Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (24 017 327)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Apr-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault. It failed to put alternative provision in place for Ms X’s child, Y between January and March 2024 and failed to ensure Y received an education and their specialist provision in line with their Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan between March 2024 and February 2025. The Council has already provided a partial remedy for its failings which caused Y to miss education between March 2024 and February 2025. The Council agreed to apologise and make a further payment to also remedy Y’s loss of education between January and March 2024. The Council also agreed to take action to improve its service.

Westminster City Council (25 000 514)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Apr-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained how the Council handled her daughter’s personal budget. She also says the Council delayed finalising her daughter’s Education, Health and Care Plan, it failed to respond to her request for a sensory assessment and its complaints handling was flawed. We find the Council was at fault for how it handled Mrs X’s daughter’s personal budget and for its delay in finalising the Education, Health and Care Plan. It was also at fault for its complaints handling and its communication. These faults caused Mrs X’s upset and frustration. Mrs X’s daughter missed out on special educational provision. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X and her daughter, make payments and implement a service improvement.

Essex County Council (25 003 835)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Apr-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for delaying completing an Education, Health and Care needs assessment. The Council was not at fault for deciding not to put in place alternative education for a child. This meant the child had to wait longer to receive an Education, Health and Care Plan. The Council agreed to apologise and make payments for the frustration and anxiety caused.

West Sussex County Council (25 009 336)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Apr-2026

Summary: Mrs B complained that the Council delayed providing funding to the School named in her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan to enable it to put the special educational support in place. We found the Council at fault which caused C to miss out on essential educational support and Mrs B significant distress. The Council ahs agreed to apologise to Mrs B and C and make a symbolic payment to them.

North Northamptonshire Council (25 010 975)

Statement Upheld School transport 14-Apr-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council wrongly refused free home-to-school transport for her son, Y. We found fault in the Council’s decision-making process and failure to retain records. This caused Mrs X uncertainty about the outcome and avoidable time and trouble. The Council agreed actions to remedy the injustice caused.

London Borough of Wandsworth (25 011 142)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Apr-2026

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to provide the Speech and Language Therapy (SaLT) provision in his child, Y’s, Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan following a Tribunal order. The Council was a fault for a delay in issuing Y’s amended plan and securing the required SaLT. The Council will apologise and make a payment to recognise the injustice caused to Mr X and Y. It will also make changes to its service to prevent the same fault from happening to others.

London Borough of Islington (25 016 695)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 14-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to reimburse the cost of a speech and language assessment commissioned by the complainant. There is not enough evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.

Kent County Council (25 016 930)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 14-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about closure of a specialist Council service. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault for us to investigate.

London Borough of Islington (25 016 996)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 14-Apr-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in securing Special Education Provision in a young person’s Education, Health, and Care Plan. It is unlikely we would find fault in the Council’s actions.