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.

East Sussex County Council (25 007 896)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Jun-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to provide her child, Y, with the provision set out in his Education, Health and Care Plan, and with alternative provision when he stopped attending school. Miss X also complained the Council delayed finding a suitable placement for Y. There was fault by the Council which cause injustice to Y and Miss X. The Council will take action to remedy the injustice caused.

Derby City Council (25 011 332)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Jun-2026

Summary: We found fault by the Council on Miss Y’s complaint about it failing to take actions in a mediation agreement and provide updates by set deadlines. It failed to meet timescales, resulting in delays. It gave incorrect advice about personal budgets and failed to send her an application when it said it would. It also failed to keep proper records. The agreed action remedies the injustice caused.

Wiltshire Council (25 015 626)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Jun-2026

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s delay in issuing his daughter’s final Education Health and Care Plan following its Annual Review. We found the Council at fault. The Council’s fault caused injustice to Mr X as for many months he could not challenge the Council’s position on his daughter’s school placement. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to recognise Mr X’s distress. The Council has already introduced an Action Plan to address its delays with the Annual Review process.

London Borough of Newham (25 017 682)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 16-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss Y’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to carry out an Education, Health and Care needs assessment for her child. Miss Y has a right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal, and it is reasonable to expect her to use this right.

Essex County Council (25 027 601)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about delays in the Education Health and Care Plan process. This is because the Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X and pay her £100 per month for the delay. We consider this an appropriate remedy and further investigation is therefore unlikely to achieve anything more.

Buckinghamshire Council (25 013 240)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 15-Jun-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for delay in allocating an Educational Psychologist to assess Mr and Mrs X’s child, W, for an Education, Health and Care Plan. This caused Mr and Mrs X frustration for which the Council will make a symbolic payment. The Council is already taking suitable action to prevent similar fault in future.

West Northamptonshire Council (25 014 247)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 15-Jun-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained about the delivery of special educational provision by the Council. She says it delayed completing her son’s phase transfer review. Mrs X says that as this was late, she could not appeal until September after the school term had begun. Mrs X says that her child has had no education since September 2025. We will not investigate this complaint. Mrs X has appealed to a tribunal which places the complaint outside our jurisdiction.

Staffordshire County Council (25 020 921)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 15-Jun-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate most Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to secure the content of her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan or its failure to organise alternative provision for her child because Miss X used her right to appeal to a tribunal, and the law says we cannot investigate.

Essex County Council (25 021 334)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 15-Jun-2026

Summary: We have upheld this complaint about the Council’s failure to complete an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for Mrs X’s child within the statutory timescale. The Council has agreed to provide a suitable remedy, and this removes the need for us to investigate.