Manchester City Council (25 015 241)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 17-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to arrange alternative provison for Y because there is insufficient evidence of fault and the injustice is not significant enough to warrant an investigation.

Hertfordshire County Council (25 004 260)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 17-Mar-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. There was poor communication and delay when dealing with an education personal budget request. The Council also failed to ensure that a child received the provision in Section F of an Education, Health and Care Plan after the school had told officers that the child was not receiving all the provision. An apology and a symbolic payment remedies the injustice.

Essex County Council (25 006 242)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 13-Mar-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. There was significant delay sending a final Education, Health and Care Plan after an annual review. A child, Y, received no educational provision after she was removed from the school roll. An apology, symbolic payment and review of procedures remedies the injustice to the family.

Cheshire West & Chester Council (25 007 354)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 13-Mar-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council did not provide her child, Y with appropriate alternative education when they became unable to attend school. The Council was at fault for a delay in responding to Mrs X’s initial request for alternative provision. However, it has already offered a suitable remedy for any injustice this caused. I have made a service improvement to prevent recurrence of the fault. There was no fault in the Council’s decision not to provide Y with alternative provision.

Staffordshire County Council (25 001 757)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 12-Mar-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide a suitable full time education to her child Y. She says this caused Y to miss education and distressed her and Y. The Council was at fault. It failed to assess whether Y was being suitably educated. This distressed Mrs X and Y. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a financial payment.

Essex County Council (25 002 059)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 11-Mar-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to secure enough alternative provision for her child, Y, and delayed completing their Education, Health and Care needs assessment. Mrs X also complained the Council delayed responding to her complaints. The Council was not at fault for its decision-making about Y’s alternative provision and reintegration to school. The Council was at fault for delaying its responses to Mrs X’s complaints. This caused Mrs X uncertainty and frustration. The Council should apologise to Mrs X.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 005 651)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 10-Mar-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault in failing to provide child Y, who had an Education, Health and Care Plan, with alternative educational provision. This caused Y the injustice of five months of missed education, for which the Council agreed to make a payment by way of remedy. The Council was not at fault in not providing educational provision during the three-month period in which Y was Electively Home Educated.

Birmingham City Council (24 022 806)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 05-Mar-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide education to her child Y. She also complained the Council failed to name a specialist education provider in Y’s Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan. Miss X says this caused Y to miss education and impacted Miss X financially. The Council was at fault. It did not provide education for Y. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a financial payment.

Derby City Council (25 000 786)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Mar-2026

Summary: We found fault by the Council on Mrs Y’s complaint about it failing to provide alternative education to her son, Z, who was without formal education from April 2024. It failed to show it properly considered whether it owed Z a duty to provide alternative provision. It also failed to communicate with her properly. The Council agreed to send an apology, make a payment for lost provision, a contribution towards advocacy and tuition costs, reviewing what happened, and reminding officers of what is expected of them.

Shropshire Council (25 002 787)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 03-Mar-2026

Summary: The Council delayed deciding whether to issue Mrs X’s child, Y with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan within statutory timescales. This was caused by an 11 week delay in obtaining Educational Psychologist advice during Y’s EHC needs assessment. The Council agreed to apologies to Mrs X and make a payment to recognise the injustice caused. The Council was also at fault for failing to decide whether it should put alternative provision in place for Y when Mrs X made it aware in October 2024 that Y was not in school. This did not cause an injustice however because Y’s school had put appropriate support in place.