London Borough of Islington (25 005 130)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 24-Mar-2026

Summary: Mr X complained that the Council had failed to ensure his son’s school adhered to his Education, Health and Care Plan, and had delayed in dealing with Mr X’s complaint. We consider the Council investigated Mr X’s concerns properly and we accept its decision that there had been some fault. However, we do not find the resulting injustice is as claimed by Mr X and that an apology is sufficient remedy. We have therefore completed our investigation and are closing the complaint.

Derby City Council (25 005 305)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 24-Mar-2026

Summary: We upheld a complaint from Mrs D that the Council delayed in issuing her daughter with an Education, Health and Care Plan. We also found some avoidable delay with the Council’s complaint handling. These faults caused some injustice to Mrs D and her daughter causing distress and putting her to unnecessary time and trouble. The Council has accepted these findings and at the end of this statement, we set out action it agreed to take to remedy that injustice.

Devon County Council (25 009 679)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 24-Mar-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council delayed completing the Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessment and EHC Plan for her daughter, Y, and failed to provide alternative educational provision when Y could not attend school full-time due to her needs. We find the Council at fault for significant delays in the EHC process. The Council has agreed to apologise and pay Mrs X £500 to recognise the distress and uncertainty caused.

Wiltshire Council (25 015 328)

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

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council dealt with Mrs X’s child’s Education, Health and Care Plan following an annual review. It is reasonable to expect Mrs X to have appealed to the Tribunal against the Council’s decision not to change the Education, Health and Care Plan. There is insufficient evidence of fault and injustice to justify an investigation into other aspects of Mrs X’s complaint.

Blackpool Borough Council (25 016 445)

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

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs B’s complaint that the Council changed the school named in her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan during the Tribunal process and its communications with her about this. We cannot investigate matters connected to an appeal or the Council’s conduct during the appeals process.

Manchester City Council (25 017 741)

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

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to carry out an Education, Health and Care needs assessment for her child. This is because Miss X had the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and it would be reasonable for her to do so.

Cambridgeshire County Council (25 003 994)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 23-Mar-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault. It did not secure all the special educational provision set out in Mr X’s child, Y’s, Education, Health and Care Plan over a three-month period. The Council will make a symbolic payment to Mr X for Y’s lost special educational provision and education to which they were entitled. The Council has already put in place an action plan to improve its service.

Devon County Council (25 004 474)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 23-Mar-2026

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to notify her it had not paid exam fees relating to her daughter’s college course. Ms X said the Council’s actions caused avoidable distress and frustration to herself and her daughter. We found fault by the Council. The Council has agreed to provide an apology and a financial remedy to Ms X.

Liverpool City Council (25 005 606)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 23-Mar-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of Miss X’s child’s education and special educational needs. Part of the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to investigate it now, part of it concerns matters about which the complainant which had the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability), and investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to lead to a different outcome in relation the rest of the complaint.

London Borough of Ealing (25 005 970)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 23-Mar-2026

Summary: The Council failed to secure two terms of Speech and Language Therapy and half a term of Occupational Therapy for Mrs X’s child, Y. The Council did secure Y’s swimming lessons and was not at fault. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to remedy injustice caused to Mrs X and Y.