Surrey County Council (26 017 669)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council decided a home to school transport application for post 16 education. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision-making to warrant further investigation.

Derbyshire County Council (25 019 712)

Statement Upheld School transport 27-Sep-2026

Summary: The Council failed to give Ms X an opportunity to attend the appeal panel hearing and failed to keep notes from the hearing. An apology, arrangement for a further appeal hearing, payment to Ms X and guidance for officers is satisfactory remedy.

Torbay Council (26 008 011)

Statement Upheld School transport 27-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s home to school transport complaint as the Council has agreed to consider the losses and effect of not having home to school transport between January and June 2026. This is a a proportionate way to resolve the complaint.

Hertfordshire County Council (26 015 973)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 27-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about post-16 education transport because there is no worthwhile outcome achievable. The Council has agreed to provide transport.

Bracknell Forest Council (25 017 514)

Statement Upheld School transport 24-Sep-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s consideration of her application and appeals for post-16 school transport assistance for her son. The Council was at fault. It failed to appropriately explain its rationale in its stage two appeal decision letter. As a result, Mrs X suffered distress and uncertainty. The Council will apologise to Mrs X, make a symbolic payment, and issue staff guidance.

Leeds City Council (26 007 859)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 24-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council refusing to arrange free post 16 home to school transport. We are unlikely to find fault.

Essex County Council (25 015 914)

Statement Upheld School transport 23-Sep-2026

Summary: We found fault with the Council’s failure to arrange school transport for Ms X’s daughter (Y) from the beginning of September 2025 and with the way it dealt with Ms X’s complaints. The Council’s fault caused injustice to Y and Ms X. The Council has agreed to apologise, reimburse the cost of Y’s school journeys from September 2025 and respond to Ms X’s safeguarding concern. The Council has also agreed to make symbolic payments to recognise Ms X’s distress and the time spent complaining.

North Northamptonshire Council (26 014 542)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 23-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council refusing to grant home to school transport as it is unlikely we would find fault which has caused her to lose out on transport.

London Borough of Barnet (25 016 916)

Statement Not upheld School transport 22-Sep-2026

Summary: Miss X complained on behalf of her daughter Y about the Council’s decision to provide a personal transport allowance instead of making the transport arrangements itself, and then failed to provide adequate funding to cover the transport. We find no fault in how the Council made its decision to provide a personal transport allowance and therefore cannot question the outcome. We have decided to end our investigation into matters after that point, which includes the level of funding, because it is reasonable for Miss X to have appealed the Council’s decision to provide an allowance, she did not do so, and we cannot achieve the outcome Miss X wants.

Worcestershire County Council (26 013 547)

Statement Upheld School transport 22-Sep-2026

Summary: We upheld Miss X’s complaint about how the Council handled her application for school travel assistance. The Council agreed to resolve the complaint early by issuing an apology and offering Miss X a fresh appeal.