Buckinghamshire Council (24 012 399)

Report Upheld Special educational needs 25-Feb-2026

Summary: The complainant (Mrs E) has two sons, who both have SEN. For one son the Council failed to provide them with speech and language therapy and occupational therapy included within their EHC Plan. For the other son, the Council also failed to provide him with speech and language therapy and failed to complete reviews of his EHC Plan in time. The investigation has highlighted systemic failings in the delivery of speech and language and occupational therapy services by the provider used by the Council to deliver these services to children with EHC Plans. This despite the Council having recommissioned that service and introduced a new strategy to meet the therapeutic needs of children with SEN in its area during 2024.

Buckinghamshire Council (25 022 150)

Report Upheld Special educational needs 25-Feb-2026

Summary: The complainant (Mrs E) has two sons, who both have SEN. For one son the Council failed to provide them with speech and language therapy and occupational therapy included within their EHC Plan. For the other son, the Council also failed to provide him with speech and language therapy and failed to complete reviews of his EHC Plan in time. The investigation has highlighted systemic failings in the delivery of speech and language and occupational therapy services by the provider used by the Council to deliver these services to children with EHC Plans. This despite the Council having recommissioned that service and introduced a new strategy to meet the therapeutic needs of children with SEN in its area during 2024.

Coventry City Council (25 000 005)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 17-Feb-2026

Summary: Mrs B complained about the Council’s actions in respect of providing transport assistance for her child, C to attend college. We have found the Council failed to explain why further independent travel training was appropriate, failed to properly consider C’s specific needs and difficulties using public transport and failed to communicate the reasons for its decision. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs B and C and make a symbolic payment to them.

Essex County Council (25 006 273)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 17-Feb-2026

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council delayed in completing the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for her daughter, Y. Mrs X also says Y has been out of education since 2023. Mrs X says this has caused her family a great deal of distress and has had financial implications. We have found fault in the actions of the Council for failing to complete the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment process within statutory timescales. The Council has agreed to write to Mrs X to apologise and pay a financial payment.

Devon County Council (25 013 312)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 17-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delays in the review of an Education, Health and Care plan. We cannot achieve the outcome the complainant is seeking. The Tribunal can decide whether the plan meets a child’s needs and amend the plan. It would be reasonable to expect the complainant to raise an appeal to obtain the outcome they are seeking.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (25 013 831)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 17-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to provide her daughter’s speech and language therapy and occupational therapy because the Council has already provided a suitable remedy for the issue. If Mrs X disagreed with the Council’s decision to remove these therapies from her daughter’s Education, Health and Care Plan it would have been reasonable for her to appeal. The remaining issues Mrs X raises are peripheral to these main points and it is unlikely investigation would achieve anything more for her.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (24 022 688)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Feb-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained on behalf of her son, Mr X, that the Council failed to deliver provision outlined in his Education, Health and Care Plan. Mrs X said the Council did not communicate properly or make an adequate assessment of Mr X’s needs. Mrs X also complained about how the Council handled her complaint. She said the Council’s actions incurred a large financial loss to the family and caused Mr X to miss out on provision he was entitled to. She said the Council’s actions also caused a significant impact on Mr X’s mental health as well as time, trouble and distress to the family. We found fault by the Council. The Council has agreed to provide an apology and a financial remedy and to carry out service improvements.

Suffolk County Council (25 002 884)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Feb-2026

Summary: Mr X complains on behalf of his son Y that the Council failed to provide the salt and language therapy provision in Y’s Education Health and Care Plan for several years impacting on Y’s progress with communication and education and causing stress to Mr X. We found fault by the Council as it did not make the salt and language therapy provision between September 2024 to March 2025, but this did not cause a significant injustice to Mr X and Y. So, we have completed our investigation.

Leeds City Council (25 003 301)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Feb-2026

Summary: Miss D complained the Council delayed issuing an education, health and care plan for her daughter and failed to provide a suitable education when she stopped attending school. The Council has accepted it did not meet the statutory deadline for the plan. I also found it failed to consider how to secure the provision after Miss D’s daughter stopped attending school. This fault caused uncertainty and for Miss D’s appeal rights to be delayed. The Council has agreed to apologise and pay Miss D symbolic payments to remedy this injustice.

Hertfordshire County Council (25 005 631)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Feb-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council delayed issuing her child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan following an annual review. We find the Council was at fault for failing to issue the final amended EHC Plan within statutory timescales. This caused Miss X avoidable uncertainty and meant her child missed special educational provision. The Council will apologise and make a payment to Miss X.