Kent County Council (24 014 617)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 19-Aug-2025

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s delay in updating his Son’s Education, Health and Care Plan following his annual review. We find the Council at fault for delay, lack of communication and loss of specialist provison. We have agreed financial remedies for the distress and frustration caused.

Blackpool Borough Council (24 017 666)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 19-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council failed to deliver education to her son while he could not attend school. We have found that the Council was not at fault for its offer of education. It considered its duties and made a decision which was not unreasonable. It was, however, at fault for providing Mrs X with some incorrect information. This did not cause Mrs X a significant injustice, and therefore we have recommended no further action.

Derbyshire County Council (24 018 690)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 19-Aug-2025

Summary: We have upheld Mrs X’s complaint because the Council delayed finalising her son’s Education Health and Care plan. The Council apologised and offered a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused to both Mrs X and her son.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (24 020 012)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 19-Aug-2025

Summary: Miss X complains the Council did not deal properly with her son’s special educational needs causing delay and avoidable distress. The Council is at fault because it did not properly complete an Education Health and Care Plan annual review properly, did not complete an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment properly and did not manage documents properly. Miss X suffered delay to receiving her son’s final EHCP and avoidable distress. The Council should apologise and pay Miss X £750.

London Borough of Waltham Forest (24 021 867)

Statement Upheld School admissions 19-Aug-2025

Summary: Ms X complained that the Independent Admission Appeals Panel failed to properly consider her appeal for a school place for her child. There was fault in the way the Panel considered Ms X’s appeal and reached its decision. The Council will apologise to Ms X for the avoidable frustration and uncertainty caused by the fault, hold a new appeal hearing with new panel members and clerk and provide training or guidance on the statutory guidance for clerks and panel members.

Nottinghamshire County Council (25 002 746)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 19-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Ms M’s complaint about her son’s education because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. We could not add to the Council’s response, and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

Worcestershire County Council (25 002 841)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 19-Aug-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about whether her child’s Education Health and Care Plan meets their needs. We cannot investigate matters which are subject to, or not separable from, a Tribunal appeal.

North Yorkshire Council (25 003 079)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 19-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delays in the review of an Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because the accepted fault did not cause significant injustice. In addition, an investigation is unlikely to achieve any worthwhile outcome.

Lancashire County Council (25 003 442)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 19-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to complete an Education Health and Care Needs Assessment. Our intervention would not lead to a different outcome and is not therefore warranted.

Derbyshire County Council (25 005 518)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 19-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained her child missed Year 6 of education with only limited part-time Alternative Provision of education at the end of the year. We found fault with the Council failing to suitably consider its Section 19 duty for 8 weeks in the academic year 2023/2024. We also found fault with the Council failing to meet its complaint timescales. The Council agreed to apologise to Mrs X for any avoidable frustrations its fault caused and pay Mrs X £600 in recognition of her child’s missed educational provision caused by its fault.