London Borough of Haringey (25 018 609)

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

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan because she has exercised her right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s decision to hold the annual review when it did. We cannot investigate the personnel matters or the actions of school staff. It is reasonable for Ms X to raise her concerns about the disclosure of personal date with the ICO. The Council has provided a suitable remedy for the delay in its complaint handling.

Leeds City Council (25 023 519)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-Aug-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of an Education, Health and Care Plan. Part of the complaint is late and there is no good reason for us to consider it now.

We cannot investigate part of the complaint because the complainant has used her right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and the Courts have decided that the Ombudsman cannot intervene where the right to appeal has been used.

We will not investigate part of this complaint as an investigation would not add anything significant to the Council’s investigation.

Suffolk County Council (26 002 534)

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

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s data handling during a Tribunal appeal about her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because we cannot investigate matters Mrs X has already raised with the Tribunal to resolve. And, the Information Commissioner is the suitable body to consider data protection complaints.

Essex County Council (26 003 654)

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

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s actions following its refusal to carry out an Education, Health and Care reassessment. This is because she has used her right of appeal to a tribunal. Other issues raised have not caused Miss X a significant enough injustice to justify investigating.

Central Bedfordshire Council (25 012 442)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-Aug-2026

Summary: Mrs X, on behalf of her daughter Ms Z, complained the Council failed to deliver the special educational provision as set out in Section F of the Education Health and Care Plan issued in August 2024. While some education was provided, this did not match what Section F required and therefore did not meet Ms Z’s needs, causing distress and affecting her ability to learn. The Council has agreed to make a symbolic payment.

Leicestershire County Council (25 013 595)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-Aug-2026

Summary: Mrs F complained the Council delayed issuing her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan and delayed providing the personal budget she requested to secure his provision. We found fault which caused uncertainty and for Mrs F’s son to miss out on a term of support. The Council has agreed to apologise and pay Mrs F a symbolic payment to remedy this injustice.

Halton Borough Council (25 015 661)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-Aug-2026

Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council completed an Education, Health and Care needs assessment for Y. The Council was at fault for delay in the process, causing uncertainty and frustration and delaying Mr X's appeal rights. The Council should apologise, make a payment to address the injustice and act to prevent recurrence.

Cambridgeshire County Council (25 016 183)

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

Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about her son’s lack of education provision because Miss X has started court proceedings against the Council.

Cambridgeshire County Council (25 017 384)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-Aug-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. It took too long to issue a final Education Health and Care Plan when Miss X’s son was moving from primary to secondary school. The Council also did not communicate with Miss X properly, and cannot show that it considered how her son could access his educational provision in the meantime. The Council’s shortcomings caused Miss X and her son distress and uncertainty at this crucial time. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X and make a symbolic payment in recognition of the impact on her and her son.

Cambridgeshire County Council (25 017 723)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 25-Aug-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to meet the legal timescales for completing an annual review of her son Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan and issuing an amended plan, and had poor communication and complaint handling. We find the Council at fault for missing the legal timescales and for poor communication. This caused frustration, uncertainty, delayed appeal rights and quantifiable loss of the cost of provision. The Council has agreed to apologise, reimburse the cost of provision and make a symbolic payment to remedy the injustice.