City of York Council (25 005 046)

Report Upheld Special educational needs 15-Oct-2026

Summary: We upheld Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to deliver the provision in her son Y’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. This meant Y’s needs were not sufficiently met, and it caused Mrs X distress. The Council was also at fault for its communication with Mrs X and its handling of her complaint which caused her further distress and uncertainty.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (25 013 803)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We agree with the Council’s findings of fault in the way it managed the complainant’s son’s reassessment of his Education, Health and Care Plan. This has caused a loss of education and avoidable distress and time and trouble. The Council has agreed the recommended ways to remedy this. We have therefore completed our investigation and are closing the complaint.

Central Bedfordshire Council (25 028 664)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 29-Sep-2026

Summary: Summary: Mrs Y complained about the way the Council dealt with her child, Z’s special educational needs provision and reviews of their Education Health and Care Plans. We have found a number of faults by the Council, causing injustice, including: a failure to deliver Z’s speech and language therapy provision in 2022; and delays completing the 2023 and 2024 annual review process. The Council has already taken action to remedy some of the faults found. It has also agreed to: apologise to Mrs Y; make a payment to recognise the distress caused; and confirm the position regarding any 2025 annual review personal budget requests.

Bristol City Council (26 002 481)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions during and after a tribunal. Some matters are out of our jurisdiction and on the matters we can consider, any injustice suffered is not significant enough to warrant further investigation.

Westminster City Council (26 017 772)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 29-Sep-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the Council changing the content of the Education, Health, and Care Plan for Miss X’s child. This is because the law says we cannot investigate when someone has used their right to appeal to a Tribunal.

West Berkshire Council (25 011 755)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Sep-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council in failing to provide suitable education when a child could not access school, and a failure to process the annual review of the child’s Education, Health and Care Plan within statutory timeframes for two consecutive years. The child missed out on six terms of suitable education and appeal rights were delayed. The Council will apologise, pay a symbolic financial payment, and make service improvements. The complaint is upheld.

Devon County Council (25 012 631)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Sep-2026

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council delayed issuing an Education Heath and Care Plan for her child Y following an annual review and delayed implementing Y’s Education Other than at School Package causing distress and lost educational opportunity. We found fault by the Council as it delayed carrying out the annual review and caused uncertainty over the amount of provision Y could have been receiving while unable to attend the alternative provision placement. We have recommended a suitable remedy for the injustice caused so have completed our investigation.

Sheffield City Council (25 015 265)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Sep-2026

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s actions related to her son, Y’s, education. We found the Council failed to provide Y with specialist education provision he was due, failed to adequately communicate with Miss X and failed to handle her complaints within the terms of its policy. This caused Miss X and Y avoidable distress and frustration and meant Y missed out on education he was due. To remedy this injustice, the Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Miss X and remind officers of relevant duties to deliver special education.

Cheshire East Council (25 021 595)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Sep-2026

Summary: We uphold a complaint from Mr X, finding the Council delayed in issuing his son with an Education, Health and Care Plan. This caused avoidable distress, which we consider an injustice. The Council has accepted these findings and agreed to take action that we consider will remedy this injustice.

Cornwall Council (25 026 150)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Sep-2026

Summary: We uphold this complaint that the Council declined to issue a response to Mrs X’s complaint unless she first accepted a sum in settlement. The Council has agreed to resolve the matter by issuing the complaint response without pre-condition.