Shropshire Council (25 006 308)

Report Upheld Special educational needs 17-Jun-2026

Summary: We upheld Mrs X’s complaint about a delay in transferring her child Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan when they moved into Shropshire. The delay meant Y did not receive the educational provision in his Education, Health and Care Plan between February and July 2025 which was an important year for him. Mrs X and Y are an armed forces family and the gap in Y’s education made the move and settling into the area more difficult and stressful. Communication was also not in line with our expected standards which caused Mrs X avoidable frustration.

Durham County Council (25 007 486)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 19-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mx X’s complaint about how the Council handled a review of her child’s Education Health and Care plan. This is because it is reasonable for her to have used her right of appeal to a tribunal about the contents of the plan and because investigating other matters would not achieve a different outcome.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (25 007 647)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 19-May-2026

Summary: We have found fault with the Council for failing to make a timely Section 19 decision. This caused Miss X’s son, Y to be without suitable alternative provision for a school half term. We have also found fault with the Council for failing to monitor and review Y’s alternative provision. This caused Miss X avoidable distress as she experienced uncertainty and potentially the missed opportunity of Y accessing a different alternative provision supplier. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to remedy Miss X’s injustice.

Surrey County Council (25 007 830)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 19-May-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council delayed in issuing an Education, Health and Care Plan following an emergency annual review for her son, Y, and failed to secure special educational provision when he was unable to attend school. We find the Council at fault for a delay in issuing the final amended Education, Health and Care Plan following the annual review. This caused frustration and uncertainty for Y and Mrs X. The Council has agreed to re-offer Mrs X a symbolic payment and secure occupational therapy provision to remedy the injustice caused.

Hampshire County Council (25 019 403)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 19-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a warning letter sent by the Council about unreasonable contact. Mr X was not caused a significant injustice by this. We will not investigate the Council’s communication with him about his child’s education because the Council upheld his complaint about poor communication and said it would apologise. An investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to achieve any additional outcome.

Essex County Council (25 020 373)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 19-May-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate the Council’s cooperation with producing an Education Health and Care Plan as Mrs X has appealed it to the Tribunal. And we are unlikely to find this Council has caused Z to miss out on the support they need.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (25 020 595)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 19-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of an Education Health Care Needs Assessment. This is because there is not enough evidence the Council is at fault and that any fault has caused significant enough injustice to justify an investigation.

Liverpool City Council (25 020 679)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 19-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about delays holding an Education, Health and Care plan annual review and poor communication. The Council has upheld her complaint and offered a suitable remedy. It is unlikely an investigation would add to the Council’s response or reach a different outcome.

London Borough of Havering (26 005 087)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 19-May-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X complaint about education provision as it cannot be separated from a Tribunal appeal.

Somerset Council (25 008 498)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 18-May-2026

Summary: The Council failed to ensure Ms X’s adult son, Mr Y received the specialist provision in his Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan since June 2025 when his college removed him from his course. It also failed to carry out an annual review for Mr Y since February 2025. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr Y and Ms X and make a payment to recognise the injustice caused. It also agreed to carry out Mr Y’s annual review without further delay.