Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about free school meals as we cannot investigate how schools provide them.

The complaint

1. Miss X says the Council has failed to ensure that her child, B, receives free school meals when they are not in school.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate most complaints about what happens in schools. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5, paragraph 5(2), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Miss X which includes the Council’s reply to her.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Miss X’s child, B is on School Z’s roll. She says that B struggles to attend School Z. Miss X says B is entitled to free school meals. She says School Z has offered a packed up lunch which they would have to pick up from School Z. Miss X says the packed lunch does not meet B’s sensory needs and they cannot pick it up from School Z.
6. As B is on a school roll, any failure to provide free school meals, or issue with the quality or accessibility of those meals is the school’s responsibility. We cannot investigate this for the reasons set out in paragraph two.

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Final decision

7. We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint because we cannot investigate how schools arrange free school meals.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman