School transport

Milton Keynes Council (18 016 152)

Statement Upheld School transport 18-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman upholds Mr X's complaint about the changes the Council made to his daughter's transport to school. The Council did not properly assess the suitability of the vehicle. It also failed to respond to Mr X's concerns about the passenger assistant. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council will carry out a thorough risk assessment and make a payment to Mr X and his daughter. It will also train its staff on the use of wheelchair restraint systems and carry out risk assessments for other children who travel to and from school in their wheelchair.

Newcastle upon Tyne City Council (19 002 276)

Statement Upheld School transport 15-Oct-2019

Summary: Ms C says the Council should pay for her granddaughter's school transport. She attends a faith school but is not a member of that faith. They qualify for 'extended rights' to school transport. Ms C says she suffered injustice because she was discriminated against. The Council was not at fault for the way it dealt with Ms C's application. It agreed Ms C had extended rights but found she did not meet the extended rights criteria. The Council was at fault for having an inadequate appeals procedure which fettered its discretion to make allowance for exceptional circumstances but this caused Ms C no injustice.

Birmingham City Council (18 016 590)

Statement Upheld School transport 15-Oct-2019

Summary: Ms B complains that the Council was wrong to refuse post-19 transport for the 2018/19 academic year for her adult daughter C, who has a disability and complex needs. The Council has agreed to the Ombudsman's recommendation that it pay Ms B £3,000 towards her transport costs for the 2018/19 academic year and to pay Ms B and C a total of £900 to reflect the injustice caused to them over the course of the last year.

Essex County Council (18 019 332)

Statement Upheld School transport 10-Oct-2019

Summary: Mrs B complains the Council did not provide her with school transport assistance between 2017 and 2019. She says it has now changed its policy and agreed to provide transport but not to backdate for the 2017 to 2019 period. The Council has now offered to reimburse the bus pass costs Mrs B incurred. The Ombudsman does not consider we would recommend anything substantially different so will discontinue the investigation.

Surrey County Council (19 002 528)

Statement Not upheld School transport 09-Oct-2019

Summary: Ms X complains about the way the Council dealt with her concerns about the driving and behaviour of a taxi driver while taking Ms X and her son to school during a two-week period. We are not investigating the complaint further as the Council has investigated Ms X's concerns and she has moved away from the area. So, we cannot achieve anything more for Ms X.

Milton Keynes Council (18 016 150)

Statement Upheld School transport 09-Oct-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman upholds Mr X's complaint about the changes the Council made to his son's transport to school. The Council did not properly assess his son's needs or communicate with Mr X about the change to the transport. It also unreasonably prevented his son from returning to the transport. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council will carry out a fresh assessment and make a payment to Mr X and his son. It will also review how it keeps records about home to school transport and audit its safe recruitment practices for drivers and passenger assistants.

Essex County Council (19 000 772)

Statement Not upheld School transport 08-Oct-2019

Summary: The complainant says the Council is at fault in its decision to refuse his request for free school transport for his children. The Ombudsman has not found any evidence of fault by the Council in how it has considered this matter and for this reason he has ended his investigation of this complaint.

Surrey County Council (18 017 681)

Statement Upheld School transport 08-Oct-2019

Summary: The complainant says the Council is at fault in its decision to refuse her son free school transport. The Ombudsman has found some evidence of fault in how the Council made its decision. He recommended the Council carry out a new review of Ms X's request and amend its review policy so that it follows statutory guidance. The Council agreed and for this reason the Ombudsman has ended his consideration of this complaint.

East Sussex County Council (19 002 642)

Statement Not upheld School transport 03-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about the Council's refusal to provide home to school transport assistance, causing financial loss and inconvenience. The Ombudsman finds no fault in the Council's decision making process.

Coventry City Council (18 007 722)

Statement Upheld School transport 01-Oct-2019

Summary: Mr and Mrs B complain on behalf of their adult son, Mr C, that the Council wrongly refused their application for post-19 transport assistance. Mr and Mrs B also complain the Council failed to issue Mr C's final EHCP. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council and has recommended actions to remedy the injustice caused.