Manchester City Council (24 018 348)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-May-2026

Summary: The Council failed to issue D’s Education, Health and Care Plan within statutory timescales and delayed putting alternative provision in place after D stopped attending school. To remedy the injustice caused by this fault, the Council has agreed to carry out the actions set out at the end of this statement.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (25 006 049)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-May-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about the process the Council followed in deciding her son’s special educational needs support. She had a right of appeal to the SEND Tribunal about these matters, and our role cannot overlap that of the Tribunal. However, the Council was at fault for a delay in deciding Miss X’s son’s support. It has agreed to apologise, and it will take steps to improve its service.

Buckinghamshire Council (25 010 765)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-May-2026

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to complete an Education, Health and Care needs assessment within statutory timeframes. We find the Council at fault for a delay in completing the Education, Health and Care needs assessment. The delay is fault which caused Mr X and his family distress, frustration and uncertainty and frustrated their right to appeal. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to remedy the injustice caused.

Buckinghamshire Council (25 013 702)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-May-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for almost nine months delay assessing Mrs X’s child, W, for an Education, Health and Care Plan. This caused Mrs X significant frustration and uncertainty and meant W missed out on some special educational provision they should have had. To remedy their injustice, the Council will apologise to Mrs X and make symbolic payments. The Council is already taking suitable action to prevent similar fault in future.

Durham County Council (25 019 607)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 12-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council has dealt with matters concerning her child’s education. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

Derby City Council (25 020 073)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 12-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about missed tuition. We are unlikely to achieve more than the £250 offered by the Council.

Suffolk County Council (25 020 407)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 12-May-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about educational provision and placements because it was reasonable for Miss X to use her right to appeal to the Tribunal. The law does not allow us to investigate this complaint.

Southend-on-Sea City Council (25 023 120)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 12-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because Miss X used her right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (25 009 544)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 11-May-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s response to her request for support for her son (Y) who could not attend school because of his health needs. Mrs X also complained about the Council’s failure to keep the statutory timescales for Y’s Education Health and Care needs assessment. We found fault with the Council’s failure to check the suitability of educational arrangements made by Y’s school despite regular communication from Mrs X. We also found fault with the Council’s delays with Y’s Education Health and Care needs assessment, with its communication with Mrs X and its record-keeping. The Council’s fault caused injustice to Y and Mrs X. The Council has agreed to apologise, arrange a meeting to discuss Y’s education and issue Y’s final Education Health and Care Plan. The Council has also agreed to make payments to recognise injustice caused to Y and Mrs X and carry out service improvement.

Bristol City Council (25 011 279)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 11-May-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in deciding provision for Ms X’s child’s special educational needs. Ms X used her right of appeal to a tribunal about the provision specified by the Council, and the matters complained of are closely related to that.