Lancashire County Council (24 021 116)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Mar-2026

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council has failed to provide her daughter Y, with the provision outlined in her Education, Health and Care Plan. Mrs X says the Council failed to reimburse her for provision she has paid for to allow Y to receive education and support or put a personal budget in place. Mrs X says this has caused her and her family distress. We have found fault in the actions of the Council for failing to provide the provision in Section F and for failing to implement a personal budget. The Council has agreed to write to Mrs X to issue an apology and pay her a symbolic payment.

Shropshire Council (25 002 787)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 03-Mar-2026

Summary: The Council delayed deciding whether to issue Mrs X’s child, Y with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan within statutory timescales. This was caused by an 11 week delay in obtaining Educational Psychologist advice during Y’s EHC needs assessment. The Council agreed to apologies to Mrs X and make a payment to recognise the injustice caused. The Council was also at fault for failing to decide whether it should put alternative provision in place for Y when Mrs X made it aware in October 2024 that Y was not in school. This did not cause an injustice however because Y’s school had put appropriate support in place.

Medway Council (25 004 658)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Mar-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to secure special educational provision in her son Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan, took too long to review the plan, and had poor communication and complaint responses. We find the Council at fault because it failed to secure some of the provision, missed statutory deadlines and for poor communication. The fault meant Y missed some education and caused distress, uncertainty and frustration. The Council has agreed to make a symbolic payment and apologise to remedy the injustice.

Hampshire County Council (25 013 613)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 03-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s education provision for Mrs X’s child while they were out of school. There is insufficient evidence of fault in the Council’s initial decision to justify an investigation. In addition, we cannot consider later parts of the complaint because Mrs X had a right of appeal to a Tribunal, to challenge the Council’s decisions. And it would have been reasonable for her to use her right of appeal.

Kent County Council (25 008 685)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Mar-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council did not complete an interim review of her child’s Education Health and Care Plan. She said this impacted her child’s education and emotional wellbeing. We find the Council at fault which caused injustice. We are satisfied the Council’s actions have remedied the injustice caused.

Sheffield City Council (25 009 189)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 03-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about childcare charges made under the Free Early Education Entitlement. This is because we have not seen enough evidence of fault with the Council’s actions to justify a further investigation.

Derbyshire County Council (25 010 065)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s delays in reviewing Mrs X’s child’s Education, Health and Care Plan and in issuing the final Plan. The Council provided a suitable remedy for Mrs X’s injustice. An investigation would not achieve any more for her.

Surrey County Council (25 011 087)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Mar-2026

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council delayed finalising his son’s Education, Health and Care plan. We have found the Council was at fault and caused a delay of nine weeks. This caused Mr X and his son uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise for this injustice.

Gloucestershire County Council (25 014 419)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 03-Mar-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of an annual review of an Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because the complainant has used her right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and the Courts have decided that the Ombudsman cannot intervene where the right to appeal has been used.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (25 014 695)

Statement Upheld School transport 03-Mar-2026

Summary: We have upheld this complaint because the Council agreed to make a new decision and offer Mr F a fresh appeal against its decision not to provide home to school transport for his daughter.