North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 020 290)

Report Upheld Alternative provision 04-Feb-2026

Summary: We found the Council delayed for 13 months in arranging alternative educational provision from February 2024 after Mrs X’s child, Y, was unable to attend school. This is the second time we have found the Council at fault for failing to provide education to Y. This caused Y to miss out on a suitable education and caused Mrs X distress, frustration and uncertainty.

Leeds City Council (24 022 215)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 12-Jan-2026

Summary: We have ended our investigation and uphold Miss X’s complaint about her son, Y missing education. During the investigation, the Council offered a suitable remedy for the injustice caused to Miss X and Y.

Worcestershire County Council (25 011 198)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 11-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has failed to make appropriate educational provision for the complainant’s son while he has been unable to attend school. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.

Suffolk County Council (25 000 032)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 09-Jan-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council was involved in a decision by the school attended by her child Y to stop offering specific educational provision, did not provide Y with suitable alternative education when she could not attend school, failed to meet timescales in an education, health and care needs assessment process and had poor standards of communication. We find the Council at fault for the way it decided if it should offer alternative education, and for missing statutory timescales in the assessment process. This caused injustice to Mrs X and Y of distress, uncertainty and frustration. The Council agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to remedy the injustice.

Portsmouth City Council (25 000 196)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 07-Jan-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council, because it did not take responsibility for ensuring the complainant’s son had suitable alternative educational provision when he was unable to attend school. The Council has agreed to apologise and offer a financial remedy to remedy the injustice this caused.

Isle of Wight Council (25 005 809)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 07-Jan-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s failure to provide alternative education for her child when they were out of school. Mrs X also complained her child was not receiving the special educational provision in their Education, Health and Care Plan. We have not investigated this complaint as the matters complained about were either part of Mrs X’s appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Tribunal or were too closely linked to the appeal.

Worcestershire County Council (25 002 513)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 06-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council is at fault for failing to provide alternative provision for Ms X’s child, Y. The Council also failed to produce a final Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan within the statutory timescales. The Council has already provided an appropriate remedy for the failure to provide alternative provision but it should apologise to Ms X and make a payment to recognise the uncertainty and frustration caused by the EHC Plan delays.

East Sussex County Council (25 010 493)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 21-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to make alternative educational provision for the complainant’s son. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant our intervention.

Dorset Council (24 019 528)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 18-Dec-2025

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation into how the Council remedied the impact of Ms X’s child missing education. This is because we cannot achieve anything further.

Gloucestershire County Council (25 002 794)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 18-Dec-2025

Summary: Mr B complained that the Council had delayed in completing an Education, Health and Care needs assessment in respect of his son C. He also complained that the Council had failed to provide suitable and accessible full-time education for C. We found there was delay in completing the assessment process due to a delay in receiving the Educational Psychology advice. We did not find fault with its actions in respect of alternative provision. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr B and C and make a symbolic payment of £450.