Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council (24 010 539)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 11-Mar-2025

Summary: Mrs B complained about delay and poor communication by the Council when issuing an Education, Health and Care Plan. We upheld the complaint, finding fault by the Council caused an injustice to both Mrs B and her daughter. The Council has accepted these findings and has agreed to provide Mrs B and her daughter with an apology and symbolic payment. It will also ensure it issues the Plan without delay and provide advice on any other services it can offer. The Council has also agreed to review how it considers complaints about its Special Educational Needs and Disability service to improve its complaint handling.

Hertfordshire County Council (24 013 801)

Statement Upheld School exclusions 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We have upheld this complaint because the Council delayed arranging alternative education provision for Mr X’s child. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint by offering to make a suitable payment to the complainant to remedy the injustice this caused.

Derbyshire County Council (24 016 489)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with an Education Health and Care needs assessment. This is because the issues raised have either been appealed to a tribunal or are not separable from that appeal.

Devon County Council (24 017 380)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to issue Mrs X’s child with an Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because the case is outside our jurisdiction.

Surrey County Council (24 017 721)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council’s officer made false allegations about the complainant’s wife at a meeting. Investigation would not add anything significant to the complaint response the Council has already made and is not therefore warranted.

Essex County Council (24 018 128)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 11-Mar-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Education, Health and Care plan process. This is because the Council has agreed to an appropriate remedy for the injustice caused by the delay.

West Sussex County Council (23 021 450)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 11-Mar-2025

Summary: Ms F complained the Council failed to provide her son (X) with an education in school or through an alternative provision placement since September 2023. She also said it communicated poorly and caused delays in its complaints handling. The Council agreed it was at fault. We found its proposed remedy was not enough. It will apologise to Ms F and make payment to her and X to properly acknowledge the injustice its faults caused them. We have also made service improvement recommendations to address the delays and faults.

Surrey County Council (24 007 650)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 10-Mar-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to secure the provision set out in Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan. As a result, Mrs X says Y has not received the provision he is entitled to. We find the Council at fault for not securing provision. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to recognise the injustice.

Surrey County Council (24 007 689)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 10-Mar-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to secure provision set out in Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan and delayed completing a review of the plan. Mrs X says this caused distress and means Y did not receive the education they were entitled to. We find the Council at fault for not securing provision and delays in reviewing Y’s plan. We find the Council has already taken suitable action to address the injustice to Mrs X and Y.

Surrey County Council (24 009 896)

Statement Not upheld School transport 10-Mar-2025

Summary: there is no fault in the Council’s decision to refuse Mr and Mrs P’s application for transport assistance for their daughter, G. We cannot question decisions taken without fault.