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.

East Sussex County Council (25 014 181)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 03-Feb-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s Education Health and Care Needs Assessment process and its decision not to assess her child, and its subsequent decision not to make alternative educational provision for the complainant’s child. The complainant has used her right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and the Courts have decided that the Ombudsman cannot intervene where the right to appeal has been used.

Devon County Council (25 001 244)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 30-Jan-2026

Summary: There was no fault in how the Council considered and put in place alternative provision for Mr X’s child, Y between February 2024 and March 2025. The Council provided tuition for Y and then provided a place at its alternative provision placement in January 2025 without fault.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 001 312)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 30-Jan-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide the special educational provision detailed in her child, Y’s, Education, Health and Care Plan. We find the Council at fault for a delay in providing educational provision when it was aware the named setting was unable to meet Y’s needs. This caused Mrs X distress and frustration and meant Y missed out on education for approximately three months. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (25 004 928)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 30-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council was not at fault in its efforts to secure an exam location for Ms X’s child, Y. It tried to secure a location once it finalised Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan. However, the Council was at fault for a delay securing a laptop for Y, causing Ms X frustration. The Council will apologise to Ms X.

Hertfordshire County Council (25 002 175)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 29-Jan-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s failure to comply with the statutory timescales when carrying out her son Y’s Education Health and Care needs assessment and issuing his plan. She also complained about the Council’s delay in completing review of Y’s Education Health and Care Plan, failure to arrange alternative provision when Y could not attend school and poor communication. We found fault with the Council for the delays in issuing Y’s Education Health and Care plan after the review and for its failure to decide on its alternative provision duty. We also found fault with the Council’s communication. The Council’s fault caused injustice to Mrs X. The Council has agreed to apologise, refund costs Mrs X spent on Y’s education between January and mid-June 2024 and make a symbolic payment to recognise Mrs X’s distress.

Surrey County Council (25 004 311)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 28-Jan-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained about the way the Council dealt with her daughter, Y’s education. The Council was at fault for failing to properly consider its section 19 duties, delaying in issuing Y’s Education, Health and Care plan and poorly responding to Mrs X’s complaints. This caused distress, frustration and uncertainty to Mrs X and Y. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to recognise the injustice caused and make service improvements.

London Borough of Hackney (25 013 923)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 28-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaints about a Council officer’s communication or a delay in the Council’s complaints process because the Council already apologised and offered a symbolic payment in line with the Ombudsman’s Guidance on remedies. An investigation is unlikely to achieve anything further. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about how the Council arranged alternative education for her child because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

Somerset Council (25 003 513)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council failed to secure alternative provision for Mrs X’s child, Y, after they stopped attending school due to health reasons. This caused Mrs X and Y distress and uncertainty and meant Y did not receive suitable education between May 2025 and July 2025. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Mrs X.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (25 002 239)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 23-Jan-2026

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to provide her son with alternative provision when he stopped attending school in March 2024. She also says the Council delayed providing her son with an education after it issued his Education, Health and Care Plan in October 2024 and its complaints handling was inadequate. We find the Council was at fault for failing to arrange a suitable full-time education for Ms X’s son and for failing to record its decision making. This meant Ms X’s son received limited education. It also caused Ms X distress and upset, and it had a financial impact. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X and her son, make a financial payment and implement a service improvement.