Hertfordshire County Council (19 009 098)

Statement Not upheld School transport 24-Feb-2021

Summary: Mr A complained regarding the Council's school transport charges for his disabled son. He said he could not afford them, and they were unfair. We find there is no fault by the Council regarding the contributions it has charged.

Essex County Council (20 002 063)

Statement Not upheld School transport 18-Feb-2021

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council's decision on her application and appeal for home to school transport for her son. We do not find fault with the way the Council made its decision, but the Council has accepted our suggestion for some further signposting about the right of appeal.

Suffolk County Council (20 003 724)

Statement Upheld School transport 10-Feb-2021

Summary: the complainant complained the Council wrongly refused her application for home to school transport and refused to exercise discretion to allow her to appeal. The Council says it applied its home to school transport policy properly and did not offer an appeal because the appeal arrived after its deadline. We find the Council acted with fault and recommend a remedy.

London Borough of Sutton (19 019 635)

Statement Upheld School transport 09-Feb-2021

Summary: Ms X complained that the Council agreed to help with home to school transport costs for her daughter but delayed in doing so and failed to respond to her emails. She said it also failed to fully respond to her complaint and put in place reasonable adjustments in view of her autism. Ms X suffered distress and inconvenience because of the Council's failings. Her daughter also suffered distress and was unable to attend her autistic school. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X and make a payment in recognition of the injustice caused.

Essex County Council (20 001 987)

Statement Upheld School transport 04-Feb-2021

Summary: Miss X complained about the way the Council dealt with her application and appeal for home to school transport for her son and that the Council's appeals system did not follow national guidance. We find that the appeal system was flawed at the time the Council considered Miss X's appeal, but this is unlikely to have affected the decision. There were gaps in the information provided to Miss X that would have helped her in her appeal. The Council has agreed to review the information it provides.

London Borough of Havering (19 016 908)

Statement Upheld School transport 02-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs S has complained about the way the Council responded to her request for school transport for her son, T, who has an Education and Health Care Plan and attends an out-of-borough school. The Ombudsman has found fault in the way the Council considered Mrs S's response to the refusal of her school transport application. We consider that the actions already taken and proposed by the Council, together with the further agreed actions represent a suitable remedy for the injustice to Mrs S and T.

Essex County Council (20 001 298)

Statement Upheld School transport 01-Feb-2021

Summary: Mrs X complained about the way the Council dealt with her application and appeal for home to school transport for her daughter. The Council was not at fault in how it reached its decision, but it did not provide her with all the information she asked for. It has apologised for this oversight. The Council has agreed to review the information it provides when home to school distance is an issue in an appeal.

Derbyshire County Council (19 018 918)

Statement Upheld School transport 28-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs C complains the Council has refused to fund her daughter's transport to college. She says this has caused injustice as she has had to pay. The Council was at fault. Its post-16 transport policy does not accord with the Government's guidance. The Council has agreed to hold a fresh transport appeal and to revise its guidance.

Essex County Council (20 005 439)

Statement Not upheld School transport 28-Jan-2021

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council's decision to refuse her application for school transport for her son. We do not find fault with the Council's decision.

West Sussex County Council (20 001 844)

Statement Upheld School transport 21-Jan-2021

Summary: Mrs B complains the Council has not properly considered her request for school transport assistance. She says the Council's appeal policy does not follow statutory guidance and has led to delays in it considering her case. The Ombudsman finds fault in the Council's appeal procedure, delays in its responses and assessment and in how it explained its decisions.