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.

Norfolk County Council (25 008 912)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 20-Sep-2026

Summary: There was no fault by the Council in the provision of interim education after a child, Y, was permanently excluded from school. Y received between 17 and 21 hours of provision per week.

Brighton & Hove City Council (25 015 125)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 17-Sep-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council delayed completing her child Y's EHC Plan, failed to ensure he received suitable education and the special educational provision in his EHC Plan, delayed implementing the agreed outcome of mediation and communicated poorly. There was fault causing injustice, including delayed appeal rights, uncertainty and loss of opportunity for Y, and avoidable distress and time and trouble for Mrs X. The Council agreed actions to remedy the injustice caused.

Torbay Council (26 017 165)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 16-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s decision against providing alternative provision for his child. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making process, and we cannot achieve the outcome he wants.

Somerset Council (25 025 919)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 15-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about an alleged failure to provide alternative education provision for his child. There is insufficient evidence of fault to warrant an investigation.