Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (24 023 246)

Report Upheld School transport 10-Feb-2026

Summary: The Council failed to decide if it was “necessary” to provide appropriate free transport to enable Ms X’s adult daughter, Miss Y, to attend the college named in her Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. It confused matters for adult learners, like Miss Y, who began their course after the age of 19, with the education transport rules for sixth form students. The Council’s amended Transport Policy 2024/2025 was not in line with the Education Act 1996 or case law for 19–25 year old learners with an EHC Plan. The faults caused Ms X avoidable frustration, avoidable time and trouble and uncertainty to her and Miss Y.

Somerset Council (25 011 771)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 12-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s refusal to accept Ms X’s medical evidence in support of her application for school transport. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

Kent County Council (25 011 479)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 12-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to change the arrangements for the complainant’s son’s school transport. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.

Essex County Council (25 015 533)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 09-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the school transport provided to her son. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to lead to a different outcome.

Birmingham City Council (25 001 135)

Statement Upheld School transport 09-Jan-2026

Summary: There was fault in the way the Council decided to offer a bus pass as its free home to school transport offer for a journey over 3 miles to an ‘eligible’ pupil. It failed to assess whether the pupil, who has special educational needs, could manage the journey independently and wrongly put responsibility on the parent to accompany the child. This caused distress, inconvenience and financial loss to the family. The Council has agreed to apologise, reimburse taxi costs and make service improvements.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (25 012 655)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 08-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to withdraw post 16 travel assistance. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

Essex County Council (25 011 545)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 08-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council refusing to provide her child with free transport to school. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

Leeds City Council (25 010 724)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 07-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s removal of the complainant’s child’s personal travel allowance and the refusal of her appeal against this decision. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant our intervention.

London Borough of Enfield (25 002 515)

Statement Upheld School transport 07-Jan-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council, because it cannot show it properly followed the legal process when refusing an application for school transport. The Council has agreed to write a formal letter of apology for this, and take steps to ensure its staff understand and can apply the law when making similar decisions in future.

Coventry City Council (25 010 860)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 06-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse Mrs X’s application for free home-to-school transport for her child. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.