Staffordshire County Council (25 007 914)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s school admissions appeal panel refusing her appeal. It is unlikely we would find fault which caused Mrs X to lose out on a school place.

Suffolk County Council (24 019 316)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Jul-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to complete an Education, Health, and Care needs assessment for her child within statutory timeframes. We found the Council at fault for significant delays, causing significant distress, frustration and uncertainty for the family. The Council has agreed to apologise and pay a symbolic payment to recognise the injustice caused.

Southend-on-Sea City Council (24 020 028)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Jul-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to complete an Education, Health and Care needs assessment for her child, Y, within the statutory time limits. She complained the Council’s offer of a symbolic financial payment was not enough to remedy the injustice caused to her. We found the Council at fault for not completing the assessment within the statutory timescales. This fault caused injustice to Miss X. The Council has agreed to make a higher payment to recognise Miss X’s distress and make changes to improve its service.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (22 013 855)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Jul-2025

Summary: Mr and Mrs B complained the Council failed to ensure their son received the provision in his education, health and care plan, failed to put in place education when their son stopped attending school and delayed responding to their complaint. There is evidence Mr and Mrs B’s son did not receive all the one-to-one provision in his education, health and care plan, the Council failed to act appropriately when Mr and Mrs B’s son stopped attending school and the Council delayed responding to the complaint. That means Mr and Mrs B’s son missed out on education and special educational needs provision. An apology, payment to Mr and Mrs B and reminder to officers is satisfactory remedy.

Hampshire County Council (24 020 946)

Statement Upheld Other 29-Jul-2025

Summary: Mr and Mrs X complained that the Council wrongly initiated court proceedings for unpaid penalty notices, despite having received full payment. We have concluded our investigation with a finding of fault. The Council failed to identify that payment had been made, did not act on the complainants’ correspondence, and escalated the matter to legal proceedings when enforcement was no longer appropriate. The Council has accepted our recommendations.

Kent County Council (25 001 733)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about whether the Council provided a suitable education to a child with an Education Health and Care Plan during a Tribunal appeal. We cannot investigate issues which are not separable from that appeal.

London Borough of Redbridge (25 001 750)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council overpaid her for her services. The Council apologised, implemented service improvements, and reduced the amount it asked Mrs X to repay. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to achieve anything further.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 007 083)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s school admissions appeal panel refusing her appeal. It is unlikely we would find fault which caused Miss X to lose out on a school place.

Coventry City Council (25 007 445)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 29-Jul-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about an unsuccessful school admission appeal. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault for us to be able to question the panel’s decision.

London Borough of Newham (24 018 246)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Jul-2025

Summary: Mr Y complains the Council did not properly consider the application for his child, D, to receive home to school transport. We find procedural fault which, on the balance of probabilities, meant the Council did not provide transport when it should have done. The Council has agreed to make a symbolic payment of £900 in recognition of the education D missed. The Council will also pay £500 in recognition of the avoidable distress caused to Mr Y and his family.