Hertfordshire County Council (25 005 801)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 24-Feb-2026

Summary: Mr B complained the Council failed to issue an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan for his daughter, who I will refer to as C, within statutory timescales and failed to arrange education for her after she was permanently excluded from school. There was fault by the Council. The Council did not issue C’s final EHC Plan within statutory timescales. It also delayed arranging alternative education provision for C. Because of the fault, Mr B suffered uncertainty and a frustrated right of appeal. C also missed out on education provision. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr B and C, and make symbolic payments.

London Borough of Islington (25 016 372)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 24-Feb-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council’s alternative educational provision for Mrs X’s child while they were not at school. Mrs X has already used a right of appeal about a closely related matter, and the law says that we cannot investigate a lack of education.

Cornwall Council (25 001 517)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 19-Feb-2026

Summary: Mrs Y complained about the way the Council dealt with her child’s special educational needs and educational provision. We have found fault causing injustice by the Council in: failing to properly consider its duty to provide her child with alternative provision and complete the annual review of their Education Health and Care Plan within statutory timescales; and its communication and complaint handling failures. The Council has agreed to remedy this injustice by: apologising; and making payments to recognise the impact of the missed education and upset caused by its other failures.

Devon County Council (25 004 162)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 19-Feb-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide a full-time education to her daughter and that it incurred delays following an Education, Health and Care needs assessment. Miss X also said the Council mishandled her complaint. She said her daughter lost out on education she should have received which negatively impacted her emotional wellbeing. Miss X also said she lost out on employment as she had to collect her daughter from school at midday. We found fault by the Council. The Council has agreed to provide an apology and a financial remedy to Miss X and make service improvements.

Kent County Council (25 015 326)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 18-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to make appropriate alternative educational provision for Mrs X’s child between September 2022 and July 2024. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to consider it now.

Gloucestershire County Council (25 001 568)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 17-Feb-2026

Summary: Ms X complains the Council failed to provide alternative educational provision for her son Y when he could not attend school. We have found no evidence of fault in the way the Council considered these matters. So, we have completed our investigation.

Oxfordshire County Council (25 003 169)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 17-Feb-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to organise alternative provision for her daughter, Y, when Y could not attend school. She said the Council failed to ensure Y received the provision in the Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan and failed to review the plan within the legal timescale. Mrs X said this distressed the family and Y missed education and plan provision. The Council was at fault. The Council did not ensure Y received education or EHC Plan provision for a term and a half. The Council did not review the plan within legal timescales. This frustrated Mrs X and Y missed education and EHC Plan provision. The Council agreed to apologise and make a financial payment.

Staffordshire County Council (24 021 692)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 16-Feb-2026

Summary: The Council failed to properly review Y’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan when they began struggling to attend school. It also failed to consider whether it should provide Y with a suitable alternative education and how it would secure the Special Educational Needs provision in Y’s EHC Plan. This caused Y to miss five terms of alternative provision and caused Miss X uncertainty, distress and time and trouble. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Miss X to recognise the impact if its failings.

Oxfordshire County Council (25 005 669)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 16-Feb-2026

Summary: Mrs D complained that the Council failed to make alternative educational provision for her child while they were unable to attend school for illness or other reasons. The Council has accepted fault. This has caused Mrs D’s child to miss out on education for two terms. The Council has agreed to make a symbolic payment to Mrs D to remedy that injustice.

St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council (24 022 517)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 13-Feb-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide her daughter with a suitable education when she stopped attending school. We found fault in the Council’s communication with Miss X which caused her avoidable anxiety and frustration. The Council agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to Miss X.