Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X's complaint that the school travel arrangements for her child are unsuitable. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to justify an investigation.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains the school travel arrangements for her child are unsuitable. She says the Council has not properly considered her child's autism and sensory needs, which affect his ability to walk safely to the bus stop.
2. Mrs X says the arrangements cause her child significant distress, and she often must collect him because he cannot walk home independently. She says this disrupts family life, affects her caring responsibilities for her other children, and impacts her work.
3. Mrs X wants the Council to carry out a fresh assessment of her son's transport needs that properly considers his autism and sensory needs. She also wants the Council to consider changing the bus route.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by Mrs X.
6. I also considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. The Home to School Travel Guidance (the Guidance) says that Councils must make suitable travel arrangements for eligible children. When deciding what arrangements are suitable, they should consider the child's individual needs and ensure the child can travel safely. This does not always mean providing transport from home. A child may be expected to walk to a suitable collection point if they can do so safely, accompanied by a parent where necessary.
8. Where a council considers whether a parent can accompany their child, it should consider the family's individual circumstances and whether there are good reasons the parent cannot do so, such as a disability or mobility problem. A parent's working pattern or other caring responsibilities will not normally be regarded as sufficient reasons why they cannot accompany their child.
9. The evidence I have seen shows the Council considered the child's autism diagnosis and sensory processing difficulties when deciding the transport arrangements. It decided Mrs X could accompany her child to the collection point in the circumstances. The Council also considered her request to change the bus route but decided this was not possible because of the narrow roads and the safety implications for other pupils.
10. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify us investigating. The Council considered relevant evidence and made a decision it was entitled to. Mrs X has provided reasons why accompanying her child may be difficult, but these do not amount to circumstances which the Guidance would normally consider prevent a parent from doing so. As there is not enough evidence of fault in how the Council made its decision, we cannot question the outcome.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman