Essex County Council (19 016 753)

Statement Upheld School transport 01-Dec-2020

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council dealt with his appeal for school transport for his son. The Council was at fault as its appeals process did not allow for parents to put their case in person or by telephone at the second stage. The Council has amended its policy to allow for this since it dealt with Mr X's appeal. The Council has agreed to review its decision at stage two under the amended policy and give Mr X the opportunity to make oral representations.

Westminster City Council (19 017 968)

Statement Upheld School transport 27-Nov-2020

Summary: Miss B says the Council failed to properly consider her application for transport assistance for her daughter. The Council failed to follow its own policy and Government guidance when considering Miss B's appeal. That means Miss B cannot be satisfied the Council properly considered her appeal. A further appeal and review of the Council's travel assistance policy is satisfactory remedy.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (20 002 401)

Statement Not upheld School transport 24-Nov-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council did not fully consider the circumstances of her application for school transport for her daughter. She says the Council's decision was based on the potential cost of travel rather than the reasons she provided. Mrs X says the Council's actions caused her unnecessary distress and upset and have been time consuming to deal with. We have discontinued this investigation because Mrs X has started court proceedings against the Council regarding the same matter.

Staffordshire County Council (19 014 232)

Statement Upheld School transport 23-Nov-2020

Summary: Mrs X complains on behalf of Ms M about the Council's decision to remove all public bus services that run at school times, from Village 1 to Village 2. She said that the walking route to the School is unsafe and the Council has failed to address concerns about the dangers and risk to children when considering her appeal. The Ombudsman finds fault in the Council's appeal process and recommends a remedy for the injustice.

Rutland County Council (19 019 587)

Statement Upheld School transport 20-Nov-2020

Summary: The complainant, Mrs Y, complains about the Council's decision to refuse the application for her son, C, to receive a blue badge. The Ombudsman finds the Council did not follow government guidance when considering C's application. Its decision-making also lacked impartiality and transparency. The Council will assess C's application again, apologise to Mrs Y for the avoidable time and trouble she experienced and arrange refresher training for the officers making blue badge decisions.

Gloucestershire County Council (19 017 243)

Statement Not upheld School transport 11-Nov-2020

Summary: The Ombudsman cannot intervene in an appeal panel's decision not to award school transport as there was no fault in the way this decision was made.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council (19 018 329)

Statement Upheld School transport 04-Nov-2020

Summary: Mrs F complained the Council failed to consider her daughter G's special educational needs when deciding not to provide her with transport to school. This had caused distress and time and trouble to the family. The investigation has found evidence of fault leading to injustice. The Council has accepted a remedy and has agreed to hold a fresh Stage Two appeal hearing in line with the relevant statutory guidance.

London Borough of Bromley (19 018 832)

Statement Upheld School transport 26-Oct-2020

Summary: Miss B complains the Council has refused to provide home to school travel assistance for her child, who has special educational needs. We uphold the complaint, finding the Council cannot show it properly considered information provided to it by Miss B in January 2020. This has caused uncertainty and put Miss B to unnecessary time and trouble. At the end of this statement we recommend action the Council should take to remedy this injustice, including considering Miss B's application afresh.

Kent County Council (19 018 937)

Statement Upheld School transport 22-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council's decision to refuse transport assistance to his two children, causing him to incur costs and causing his children distress. The Ombudsman finds no fault in the decision making process but finds the Council did not provide clear information in its policy and did not promptly inform Mr X of his right to appeal, causing injustice. The Ombudsman recommends the Council provides an apology, makes a payment and acts to prevent recurrence.

Medway Council (18 013 426)

Statement Upheld School transport 21-Oct-2020

Summary: Mr B complains that the Council failed to safeguard his daughter when she was using transport it provided. He also says it failed to investigate when she returned from school with puncture wounds. The Ombudsman finds the Council took appropriate action in relation to Mr B's concerns, but it failed to provide a formal response to his first complaint and the SEN team failed to contact him to discuss his request for support for his daughter. In recognition of the injustice caused, the Council has agreed that it will apologise to Mr B and that the SEN team will contact him about his request for support.