Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint that the Council has failed to provide funding to a school in order for it to meet the needs of a child with special educational needs. This is because the complaint is made on behalf of a public body.

The complaint

1. Mrs X works for a school. She complains that the Council has failed to provide sufficient funding to the school for it to provide special education needs provision for a child.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate complaints from public bodies. (Local Government Act 1974, section 27(1)(a), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. I cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint. This is because it is made on behalf of a school, which is a public body. This places it outside of our jurisdiction as explained in paragraph 3.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint because she is making it on behalf of a public body.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman