North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 020 290)

Report Upheld Alternative provision 04-Feb-2026

Summary: We found the Council delayed for 13 months in arranging alternative educational provision from February 2024 after Mrs X’s child, Y, was unable to attend school. This is the second time we have found the Council at fault for failing to provide education to Y. This caused Y to miss out on a suitable education and caused Mrs X distress, frustration and uncertainty.

Somerset Council (25 003 513)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 27-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council failed to secure alternative provision for Mrs X’s child, Y, after they stopped attending school due to health reasons. This caused Mrs X and Y distress and uncertainty and meant Y did not receive suitable education between May 2025 and July 2025. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Mrs X.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (25 002 239)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 23-Jan-2026

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to provide her son with alternative provision when he stopped attending school in March 2024. She also says the Council delayed providing her son with an education after it issued his Education, Health and Care Plan in October 2024 and its complaints handling was inadequate. We find the Council was at fault for failing to arrange a suitable full-time education for Ms X’s son and for failing to record its decision making. This meant Ms X’s son received limited education. It also caused Ms X distress and upset, and it had a financial impact. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X and her son, make a financial payment and implement a service improvement.

Brighton & Hove City Council (25 001 967)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 21-Jan-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council in failing to consider alternative education when a child was unable to attend school on health grounds, and delay in securing special educational provision in an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. This caused loss of education and distress. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a symbolic financial payment and make service improvements.

Lincolnshire County Council (25 006 052)

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

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council has failed to make educational provision for the complainant’s daughter and failed to properly identify and address her special educational needs. The complainant has used her right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and the Courts have decided that the Ombudsman cannot intervene where the right to appeal has been used. We will not investigate part of this complaint as it is late and there are no good reasons to investigate now.

Warwickshire County Council (24 020 200)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 21-Jan-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained her son has been out of education for over a year. She says the Council failed to secure a school placement or arrange suitable alternative educational provision that meets his Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. We found fault in the Council’s actions. The Council agreed to apologise to Mrs X, pay a financial remedy and review its procedures for securing timely educational provision.

Medway Council (25 012 219)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 21-Jan-2026

Summary: We upheld Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to organise alternative education for her child, Y, when their school closed because the Council upheld the complaint, offered Mrs X a symbolic payment of £3,040, apologised, and explained service improvements it made. This is in line with the Ombudsman’s Guidance on Remedies and therefore we decided not to investigate.

Oxfordshire County Council (24 021 070)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 19-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council failed to ensure Y received suitable alternative provision or the specialist provision in their Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan between September 2024 and July 2025 when they were unable to attend school. It also delayed issuing Y’s amended EHC Plan by 23 weeks after an annual review in November 2024. The Council has already apologised to Mrs X however it should make a payment to recognise the injustice caused to Y and Mrs X.

Cheshire East Council (25 000 636)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 15-Jan-2026

Summary: There was no fault in the Council’s decision to not put alternative provision in place after Mrs X’s child (Y) stopped attending school between November 2024 and February 2025. This was because there was a part-time timetable in place for Y which the Council kept under review.

Leeds City Council (24 022 215)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 12-Jan-2026

Summary: We have ended our investigation and uphold Miss X’s complaint about her son, Y missing education. During the investigation, the Council offered a suitable remedy for the injustice caused to Miss X and Y.