Cheshire West & Chester Council (25 020 405)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 07-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to provide alternative provision for Miss X’s child because she has the right of appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal, and it would have been reasonable for her to use this right.

London Borough of Enfield (24 022 734)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 04-Jun-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council did not provide the provision set out in her child’s Education Health and Care Plan. She also complained the Council did not provide alternative education when her child’s school attendance reduced. Mrs X says this impacted her child’s education and wellbeing. We find no fault with the Council’s decision-making regarding alternative education. We find fault with the Council’s delay providing provision in the Plan which caused injustice. The Council will apologise to Mrs X and Y to remedy the injustice.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (25 031 560)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 04-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council failed to arrange alternative education provision for his two children and delayed assessing their special educational needs. This is because there is either insufficient evidence of fault, Mr X’s complaint is made late or because Mr X has used his right of appeal to a tribunal.

Gloucestershire County Council (25 006 728)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 03-Jun-2026

Summary: Mr F complained about the Council’s handling of his son’s (Y) education since late 2023 when he was unable to attend his school placement, and delays in its Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan process. The Council accepted fault and proposed a remedy for its failure to arrange education as agreed for Y in September 2024 and causing delays in the EHC plan process. We found some additional fault by the Council for which it agreed to apologise and pay an increased remedy to acknowledge the injustice its faults caused Mr F and Y.

West Berkshire Council (25 014 469)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 02-Jun-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate part of Mrs X’s complaints about the content or delivery of her child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan because she appealed to a tribunal, and the law says we cannot investigate. We will not investigate her complaints about the delivery of the EHC Plan or a failure to organise alternative provision for an earlier period because there is insufficient evidence of fault.

Cornwall Council (25 002 570)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 02-Jun-2026

Summary: The Council was not at fault for the alternative education Miss X’s child received when they were not able to attend school.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (25 010 459)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 01-Jun-2026

Summary: Mr X complained on behalf of his daughter, Miss Y, that the Council failed to issue her with its decision not to provide an Education, Health and Care Plan. Mr X also complained the Council failed to take appropriate steps to ensure Miss Y had access to education while she was unable to attend an educational setting. Mr X says the Council’s actions negatively impacted Miss Y’s mental health and academic progress and placed a financial strain on the family. We found some fault by the Council. The Council has agreed to provide an apology and a financial remedy.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (25 021 936)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Alternative provision 01-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to provide alternative education provision for his son in 2019 and 2020. This is because his complaint is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and consider it now.

Oxfordshire County Council (25 008 055)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 31-May-2026

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council did not deal properly with her son Y’s education, causing him to miss educational provision. The Council is at fault because it did not properly consider s19 alternative education provision. Y suffered missed education provision. The Council should apologise to Mrs X, repay costs of tuition and make a symbolic payment in respect of missed educational provision.

Lancashire County Council (25 011 135)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 31-May-2026

Summary: Mr X complained the Council delayed completing his child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment and failed to provide full-time education while his child was out of school. We find the Council at fault for a significant delay in issuing the EHC Plan, failing to properly consider and communicate its section 19 duty, and poor complaint handling. These faults resulted in missed educational provision and created uncertainty, as well as avoidable time and trouble for Mr X. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mr X and take steps to improve its processes for alternative provision and complaint handling.