Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (24 016 323)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 28-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her child, Y, with alternative educational provision and support when they struggled with attending school. There was no fault by the Council.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (24 018 114)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 28-Aug-2025

Summary: We have discontinued our investigation of this complaint, that the Council failed to ensure two children received consistent and suitable tuition. This is because we do not consider there is any evidence of significant fault by the Council, and we are satisfied the Council has proposed an appropriate way to address the provision that was missed.

London Borough of Hackney (24 019 318)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Aug-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to complete her child, Y’s, Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment within the statutory timescales. Miss X also complains Y did not receive suitable education from November 2022. Miss X says this caused her and her family distress and Y missed education. We have found fault in the Councils actions for delaying completing Y’s Education Health and Care Needs Assessment and for failing to provide Y with education. The Council has agreed to write to Miss X to apologise and pay her a financial payment.

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council (25 000 327)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 26-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs M complained the Council took too long to arrange alternative education for her daughter. There is not enough injustice to justify an investigation.

Leeds City Council (25 003 400)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 22-Aug-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to issue the complainant’s child’s Education Health and Care plan within the statutory timescale, and failed to make alternative provision for him while he was out of school. Our intervention would not lead to a different outcome and is not therefore warranted.

London Borough of Southwark (25 002 528)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 20-Aug-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about failure to secure suitable education and special educational needs provision as set out in an Education, Health and Care Plan while a child was out of school. Mrs X appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) about the suitability of the school named in the Plan. The non-attendance at school is linked to the subject of Mrs X’s appeal. The Tribunal agreed the school was suitable. We will not investigate the rest of Mrs X’s complaint about attendance warnings because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council, or a significant enough injustice, to justify an investigation.

Blackpool Borough Council (24 017 666)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 19-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council failed to deliver education to her son while he could not attend school. We have found that the Council was not at fault for its offer of education. It considered its duties and made a decision which was not unreasonable. It was, however, at fault for providing Mrs X with some incorrect information. This did not cause Mrs X a significant injustice, and therefore we have recommended no further action.

Derbyshire County Council (25 005 518)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 19-Aug-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained her child missed Year 6 of education with only limited part-time Alternative Provision of education at the end of the year. We found fault with the Council failing to suitably consider its Section 19 duty for 8 weeks in the academic year 2023/2024. We also found fault with the Council failing to meet its complaint timescales. The Council agreed to apologise to Mrs X for any avoidable frustrations its fault caused and pay Mrs X £600 in recognition of her child’s missed educational provision caused by its fault.

London Borough of Sutton (25 003 191)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 18-Aug-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council’s failure to properly address the complainant’s child’s special educational needs denied her access to educational and special educational provision. Miss X used her right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and this means the law prevents the Ombudsman from considering the key matters.

Cambridgeshire County Council (24 018 245)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 17-Aug-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to provide alternative education for her son, Y. We found fault by the Council as it did not properly check what provision was in place for Y even though it was aware of his situation. As a result, Y missed out on education and his welfare suffered. Ms X also experienced stress and financial loss. The Council has agreed to a financial remedy in recognition of the injustice caused to Ms X and Y.