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.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (25 008 999)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-Jun-2026

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to deliver specialist education to his daughter, Y. We have found fault because the Council did not have oversight of the provision in place and failed to organise psychoeducation specified in her Education, Health and Care Plan. This caused Mr X and Y avoidable distress and frustration. The Council has suggested a remedy for the lost provision and linked frustration. To remedy the injustice caused, the Council has agreed to apologise to Mr X and Y, make a payment to Mr X, organise appropriate provision and review some of its practices and procedures linked to oversight.

Essex County Council (25 009 977)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-Jun-2026

Summary: The Council failed to carry out a timely review of D’s Education, Health and Care Plan when they moved into its area and did not secure the provision set out in the plan. These failings meant D did not receive the educational provision they were entitled to for a prolonged period. The Council has acknowledged fault and offered a financial remedy which is proportionate and in line with the Ombudsman’s guidance.

London Borough of Islington (25 010 476)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-Jun-2026

Summary: We found fault with the Council’s delays of 26 weeks outside timescales producing an amended final Education, Health and Care plan for Ms X’s child in 2025. We also found fault with the Council failing to provide Ms X’s child’s Education, Health and Care Plan provision for two full terms. The Council agreed to apologise to Ms X and make a symbolic financial payment to address the distress, frustration, delayed appeal rights and missed provision experienced by Ms X and her child.

Staffordshire County Council (24 008 676)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-Jun-2026

Summary: We upheld Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council handled her child’s Education and Health Care Plan. The Council agreed to resolve the complaint early by paying Mrs X a symbolic payment to acknowledge the injustice caused.

Somerset Council (24 021 050)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-Jun-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to find a suitable school place for her child, Y, and did not secure enough alternative provision for Y. The Council was at fault for failing to find Y a suitable school place and failing to secure suitable alternative provision. The Council was also at fault for delaying issuing Y’s EHC Plan. This caused Miss X distress and uncertainty and meant Y did not receive a suitable education for around nine months. The Council should apologise and make a payment to Miss X.

Suffolk County Council (25 006 326)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-Jun-2026

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s actions linked to her son’s education. We found fault because the Council did not act decisively in arranging interim education provision when it had committed to do so. The Council also failed to provide updates to Miss X as it said it would. This caused Miss X avoidable distress and meant her son’s interim provision did not start as early as planned. Miss X has already accepted a payment from the Council linked to its decision on missed interim provision. The Council has agreed to apologise to her for not acting decisively in arranging this and for poor communication.

Leeds City Council (25 010 036)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 01-Jun-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide the provision set out in her child’s Education Health and Care plan. She says that staff did not have the correct training. We will not investigate this complaint because it is late and there is no good reason to consider it now. The events relate to matters which occurred in 2023 and earlier.

Lancashire County Council (25 011 040)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 01-Jun-2026

Summary: There was fault by the Council. The Council delayed an annual review meeting and did not produce a final Education, Health and Care Plan until after the next annual review. The Council did not keep under review the amount of hours tuition given to a child who was unable to attend the school named in the Education, Health and Care Plan, as the school could not meet his needs. A symbolic payment and apology remedies the injustice of loss of educational provision to the child and the distress to the family.

West Sussex County Council (25 012 122)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 01-Jun-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault. It failed to provide Miss X’s child Y with a suitable alternative education or the provision in their Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan between September 2024 and December 2025 when Y did not have a named school to attend. The Council agreed to apologise and make a payment to Miss X to recognise the impact this had on Y’s education and development and the distress and uncertainty caused to Miss X.