Wakefield City Council (25 005 701)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint the Council named an unsuitable school in her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because it is reasonable to expect Mrs X to use her right of appeal to the SEND Tribunal. An investigation by the Ombudsman could not give Mrs X the outcome she wants.

Buckinghamshire Council (25 004 834)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Education, Health and Care plan process. This is because the Council has agreed to an appropriate remedy for the injustice caused by the delay.

Birmingham City Council (25 005 514)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the behaviour of a Council employee during a educational needs meeting. There is insufficient injustice and it is unlikely our investigation would achieve a worthwhile outcome. We will not investigate the complaint about how the Council handled the complainants’ data as the Information Commissioner Office is better placed to investigate such matters.

Devon County Council (25 008 402)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council refusing to assess her child for an Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because it was reasonable for Mrs X to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

Essex County Council (25 008 944)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 07-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delay in the Education and Health Care Plan process. This is because the Council has agreed to remedy the injustice caused by its delay and it is unlikely further investigation would achieve significantly more for Miss X. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s decision to name a school in her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan because the decision carried a right of appeal which it would have been reasonable for her to use.

Central Bedfordshire Council (24 020 679)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to finalise her daughter, Miss Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan within legal timescales. She also complained the Council failed to complete a phased transfer review. Mrs X said this frustrated and distressed her. The Council was at fault, but it has taken appropriate action to remedy any injustice caused by this fault.

Kingston Upon Hull City Council (24 021 805)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Oct-2025

Summary: The Council delayed issuing a final amended Education, Health and Care Plan after Mrs X’s child, Y’s, annual review. This left Y without an up-to-date Plan and caused them significant frustration. The Council’s communication with Mrs X was also poor which added to her frustration. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X and make a payment to acknowledge the frustration the faults caused.

London Borough of Ealing (24 010 964)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Oct-2025

Summary: Miss X complained that the Council delayed in issuing an amended Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan for her child, sent an incorrect draft, and failed to provide agreed educational and therapeutic support while her child was out of school. Based on the current evidence, the Council was at fault. This caused avoidable distress to Miss X and a loss of provision for her child. We have proposed recommendations to the Council.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (25 003 281)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 06-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of the Education, Health and Care Plan process for the complainant’s child. It is unlikely our investigation would achieve a worthwhile outcome. We will not investigate the complaint about the Council’s complaint handling as a stand-alone issue.

Swindon Borough Council (25 005 790)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 06-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her daughter’s education. It was reasonable for Mrs X to appeal to the Tribunal if she wanted to challenge the Council’s decision not to issue her daughter with an Education, Health and Care Plan. The rest of Mrs X’s complaint has either already been considered by the Ombudsman or needs to be raised as a fresh complaint if it has completed the Council’s process.