Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (25 013 993)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We upheld a complaint from Mrs B, finding the Council failed to properly consider if it owed a duty to make alternative education provision for her son during his absence from school. We considered this contributed to a loss of education provision for him, which was an injustice. The Council has accepted these findings and agreed action we recommended to remedy that injustice, comprising an apology and symbolic payment to Mrs B. It has also amended relevant policy to address what it will do when children miss school in similar circumstances.

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council (25 011 973)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Sep-2026

Summary: Dr X says the Council mishandled her application for an Education, Health and Care Plan for her daughter Y. Dr X is also unhappy with the placement named in Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan and says the Council did not follow the correct process to decide the placement. Dr X also says the Council failed to consider its Section 19 duty when Y was unable to attend school. Dr X has also complained the Council failed to respond to her complaint within its published timescales. Dr X says this caused her and her family distress and inconvenience and Y to miss education. We have found fault in the actions for its delayed complaint response. The Council has agreed to write to Dr X to issue an apology.

Cornwall Council (25 018 106)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Sep-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to adhere to the statutory timescales following an annual review of her son’s Education, Health and Care plan, and provide suitable alternative provision when he was unable to attend school. We found fault by the Council which caused Mrs X and Y an injustice. The Council will apologise and make payment to acknowledge the impact this had on them.

Suffolk County Council (25 026 692)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 23-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to secure educational and special educational provision for the complainant’s child. Investigation of the period before the Council issued an amended Education Health and Care plan is not warranted because it would not lead to a different outcome. We cannot investigate later matters because the complainant used her right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

Birmingham City Council (25 020 556)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 22-Sep-2026

Summary: We found the Council at fault for not considering and recording its section 19 duties when Dr X asked for alternative provision in November 2024 and in February 2025 when Y missed 15 school days. The Council agreed to apologise to Dr X and Y and pay £200 to recognise the avoidable distress and uncertainty its actions caused to Dr X and Y. The Council has also agreed to carry out service improvements about how it makes, carries out and communicates decisions about its section 19 duties.

Worcestershire County Council (26 002 029)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 22-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint that the Council refused her request for compensation because it is too late.

Hartlepool Borough Council (25 013 733)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 21-Sep-2026

Summary: We have found fault with the Council for delaying its section 19 decision. This left Mr X’s daughter without education for 9 months when she was unable to attend school. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment.

West Northamptonshire Council (25 013 935)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 21-Sep-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained about the way the Council carried out an Annual Review of her son’s (Y) Educational Health and Care Plan and its failure to arrange alternative education and special educational provision for Y when he was out of school. She also raised the issue of the Council’s complaint handling. We found no fault with the Council. We cannot investigate the Council’s post-review amendments to Y’s plan as they were part of Mrs X’s appeal to the Tribunal. We will not investigate anything that was linked to Mrs X’s appeal.

London Borough of Ealing (25 026 331)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 21-Sep-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about alternative and special educational provision. The complainant has used the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability and this prevents us considering the provision made for her child.

London Borough of Wandsworth (25 020 914)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 20-Sep-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her daughter with a suitable full time education when she was unable to attend a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). We discontinued our investigation as it is not clear that Mrs X wishes us to pursue her complaint.