Staffordshire County Council (24 004 134)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 13-May-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to complete an Education, Health and Care needs assessment for Y within the statutory time limits, and failed to ensure she received suitable education while she was out of school. Mrs X said this caused her real stress and meant she incurred additional expenses. We find the Council at fault. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to recognise the injustice and act to prevent recurrence.

Telford & Wrekin Council (24 007 302)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 13-May-2025

Summary: We have found fault with the Council for failing to secure the therapy set out in Mrs X’s daughter’s Education, Health and Care Plan. This caused her to miss out on the therapy she needed. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to Mrs X in recognition of the missed provision.

London Borough of Islington (24 020 760)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 13-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with her concerns that her child’s Special Educational Needs were not being met. This is because there is insufficient evidence of fault causing a significant injustice.

Essex County Council (24 008 703)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-May-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council did not provide suitable education to her child when they were out of school and delayed updating their education, health and care plan. Based on current evidence I intend to find the Council at fault for not providing suitable education and delaying making a decision on Ms X’s child’s annual review. Ms X’s child has missed a significant amount of education. To remedy the injustice caused the Council agreed to apologise, make a payment to recognise loss of education and secure suitable provision for the child.

Derbyshire County Council (24 015 538)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-May-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to issue her child, Y’s, Education, Health and Care Plan within statutory timescales after deciding Y needed a Plan in May 2024. She also said the Council delayed issuing a response to her complaint. The Council was at fault because it issued Y’s final EHC Plan 36 weeks outside of statutory timescales. It was also at fault for not issuing its complaint responses within timescales. The Council has agreed to make a payment of £2300 to recognise Y’s loss of provision and the distress, frustration and uncertainty caused.

Central Bedfordshire Council (24 016 768)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 12-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Education, Health and Care Plan process. The complaint is late, and Mr X appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). This places the complaint outside our jurisdiction.

Derbyshire County Council (24 008 668)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-May-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about delay and poor communication in the education, health and care plan process. In particular, Mr X said there was fault in the consultation process which meant his son missed the opportunity of an earlier specialist school placement. We have found delay and poor communication by the Council causing Mr X avoidable distress. The Council has agreed to apologise and provide a symbolic payment.

Essex County Council (24 020 885)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-May-2025

Summary: We have upheld this complaint because the Council delayed carrying out an Education Health and Care needs assessment for a child. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint by offering to make a suitable payment to the complainant to remedy the injustice this caused.

Telford & Wrekin Council (24 020 902)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 12-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council delayed providing home to school travel assistance for her children. This is because we could not add to the investigation carried out by the Council or achieve a different outcome.

Hampshire County Council (24 020 985)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 12-May-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council conducted reviews of her adult child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, alternative education provision and the Council’s conduct while dealing with her Tribunal appeal. Some issues are late. The law says we cannot investigate matters closely related to, or considered by, a Tribunal. Other bodies are better placed to consider issues about health provision and the Council’s compliance with General Data Protection Regulations. We also could not add to the Council’s investigation and responses on matters separable from the Tribunal appeal.