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.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (25 001 865)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 24-Feb-2026

Summary: We have found fault with the Council for failing to consider its Section 19 duty. This caused Miss X’s son, Y to miss out on education and support. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Miss X in recognition of the injustice caused. In addition, the Council agreed to make a service improvement to share information between teams.

Milton Keynes Council (25 002 979)

Statement Not upheld Special educational needs 24-Feb-2026

Summary: Ms Y complained about the way the Council dealt with her child’s special educational needs and educational provision. Her complaints included the implementation of provision in the Education Health and Care Plan and the Council’s communication about this. We have not found fault with the Council.

Lancashire County Council (25 005 863)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 24-Feb-2026

Summary: The Council failed to adhere to the statutory timescales for the Education, Health and Care needs assessment process for Mrs X’s child, Y. It incorrectly told Mrs X an Educational Psychologist report was required and significantly delayed issuing Y’s Plan after it became aware a new report was not required. The delay caused a loss of specialist provision to Y between November 2024 and October 2025. The Council will apologise and make a payment to acknowledge the loss of provision, distress, frustration and uncertainty the delay caused.

Surrey County Council (25 013 200)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 24-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s management of an Education, Health and Care plan. This is because the Council has already offered a reasonable remedy in line with our guidance and any remaining injustice is not significant enough to justify our involvement.

Suffolk County Council (25 013 936)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 24-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. Consideration of the complaint would not now lead to a different outcome. It was reasonable for Mrs X to use her right of appeal if she wanted to challenge the content of the plan the Council issued.

Coventry City Council (25 014 178)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 24-Feb-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an Education, Health and Care assessment and plan because it is reasonable for the complainant to appeal to the Tribunal.

London Borough of Redbridge (25 000 501)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 23-Feb-2026

Summary: We found fault with the Council delaying for 18 months outside the statutory timescales in reviewing and making the decision to cease Ms X’s child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. We also found fault with the Council proposing to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan for Ms X’s child who was aged over 25 years when it completed the review. The Council’s fault caused uncertainty, distress, missed opportunity and Ms X to incur fees for professional opinion she did not need to obtain. The Council agreed to apologise to Ms X, reimburse Ms X for half the professional fees she incurred and pay her a symbolic payment for the injustice caused.

West Northamptonshire Council (25 005 355)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 23-Feb-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to secure the content of her child, Y’s, Education, Health and Care Plan. We find the Council at fault for failing to secure the provision detailed in Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan. This caused Y and Mrs X distress and frustration and impacted Y’s access to education. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment.