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.

Lancashire County Council (25 004 409)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-May-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council delayed issuing her child Y’s final amended Education, Health and Care Plan. She also said the Council failed to secure all the provision in Section F. We find the Council at fault for significant delay and poor complaint handling. This caused loss of educational provision for Y and caused Miss X distress and uncertainty. The Council will apologise, makes symbolic payments for lost provision and distress, provide an update on its current action plan, and review its oversight of complaint response times.

Leeds City Council (25 008 641)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-May-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for the failure to review the Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan for Ms X’s child, Y and its failure to provide the educational provision detailed in the Plan causing Y to miss out on education and therapy, and frustration for Ms X. Poor communication and complaint handling by the Council added to Ms X’s frustration. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to recognise the missed provision, delay and frustration caused.

Medway Council (25 012 396)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-May-2026

Summary: Ms X complains about the Council’s handling of her application for an Education, Health and Care Plan for her daughter Y. Ms X says the Council failed to provide education while her daughter could not attend school. Ms X says this has caused Y to miss education and distress for the whole family. We have found fault in the actions for the Council for delays in completing its assessment of Y’s needs and issuing an Education, Health and Care Plan. The Council has agreed to write to Ms X to issue an apology and pay her a symbolic payment.

Lancashire County Council (25 019 761)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 26-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delays in the Council’s Education Health and Care Plan process. This is because further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.

City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (25 021 934)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 26-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the educational support provided to his child. Most of Mr X’s complaint is late with no good reason for us to now investigate. We cannot consider complaints about what happens in schools. It was also reasonable for Mr X to use his right of appeal which he has now exercised. This places more recent matters outside our jurisdiction.

Salford City Council (25 000 448)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-May-2026

Summary: We find the Council delayed issuing an amended Education, Health and Care Plan for Mr B’s son, K, after agreeing to make changes to it during mediation. As a result, K did not receive the support he needed. The Council has agreed to make a payment to Mr B and make service improvements.

Middlesbrough Borough Council (25 007 735)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-May-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. It failed to check whether Miss X’s son was receiving occupational therapy when he moved to a new school in November 2024. The Council also failed to make alternative provision or attempt to deliver her son’s Education Health and Care Plan when he had no school place between June and November 2024. The Council’s failings meant that Miss X’s son missed out on education and occupational therapy and it caused Miss X and her family uncertainty and distress. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X and her son, and make a payment to recognise the impact on them.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 013 065)

Statement Not upheld Special educational needs 25-May-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council did not issue her child’s Education Health and Care Plan within statutory timescales. She also complained it did not provide her with her right to appeal. She said this caused her and her child unnecessary stress. We find no fault.

Cumberland Council (25 020 630)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 25-May-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of an Education, Health and Care Plan. It is unlikely we could add anything to the Council’s response, and we cannot investigate complaints about what happens in schools. The Information Commissioner’s Office is best placed to look at some of Mr X’s complaint and there is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s complaint handling.