Sheffield City Council (23 017 818)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Mar-2025

Summary: The Council failed to properly consider its duty to provide alternative education for Ms X’s child, Z. This led to Z missing out on alternative provision and caused Ms X uncertainty and frustration. In recognition of the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise, pay Ms X £1,200 and carry out service improvements.

Leeds City Council (24 002 919)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Mar-2025

Summary: the Council’s initial response when Mrs P asked for help because her son, B, was unable to attend school was good. There were delays arranging alternative provision and B only received the core offer from the Council’s medical needs tuition service while Mrs P funded additional tuition. The Council has changed its procedures and has agreed a symbolic remedy for the injustice caused.

Worcestershire County Council (24 006 871)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Mar-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to ensure her son, Y received a suitable education after he stopped attending school in January 2024 due to anxiety. The Council accepted it should have put alternative provision in place for Y between May and July 2024. It agreed to apologise to Miss X and make payments to her to recognise Y’s missed education and for the distress and frustration caused.

Leeds City Council (24 002 171)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Feb-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to provide her daughter, Y with a suitable full-time education since she could not attend school for medical reasons. We found fault by the Council causing Y to miss out on education she was entitled to. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Ms X and her daughter in recognition of the injustice caused to them.

West Sussex County Council (24 002 850)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Feb-2025

Summary: Mrs Y complained the Council failed to provide her child, Z, with a suitable education. We have found fault by the Council, causing injustice, in failing to consider its duty to make alternative educational provision for Z during the period from January 2023 to April 2024. The Council has agreed to remedy this injustice by apologising to Mrs Y, and making payments to acknowledge the distress caused and impact of the missed education on Z.

Surrey County Council (24 005 704)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Feb-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to review Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan within statutory time limits and delayed in obtaining an Educational Psychologist reassessment. Mrs X also complained the Council failed to make appropriate alternative provision available while Y was out of school. Mrs X said this caused her real stress and frustration. We find the Council at fault. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to recognise the injustice caused and act to prevent recurrence.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (23 018 350)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 26-Feb-2025

Summary: Miss F complained the Council failed to arrange alternative provision for her daughter. We found fault which caused a loss of education and distress. The Council has agreed to make a payment to Miss F for the educational benefit of her daughter to remedy that injustice.

London Borough of Haringey (24 001 174)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 25-Feb-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide educational provision to two of her daughters. She says the Council’s actions caused avoidable stress and anxiety and negatively impacted both daughter’s mental health and education. We found fault by the Council. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X and her daughters and provide a financial remedy.

London Borough of Islington (24 005 288)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 24-Feb-2025

Summary: Miss X complains the Council failed to provide her son Y, with alternative educational provision while he was unable to attend school due to health issues. We have concluded our investigation making a finding of fault. The evidence shows that the Council made a professional judgment regarding Y’s school attendance and alternative provision, and there is no indication that this was inconsistent with their obligations. However, I found that Miss X raised valid concerns about communication and timeliness, and the Council could have better communicated with Miss X to keep her informed. The Council has accepted our recommendations.

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (24 015 154)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 21-Feb-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council’s remedy offer to recognise her child’s missed education is insufficient. This is because the Council has agreed to resolve the complaint early by providing a proportionate remedy for the injustice caused.