Herefordshire Council (24 019 532)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Oct-2025

Summary: The Council failed to complete an annual review of an Education, Health and Care Plan on time and failed to provide a right of appeal in 2023. The Council also failed to consider if its duty to provide alternative provision under s.19 Education Act 1996 was engaged when a pupil had to be withdrawn from school. This caused distress and uncertainty whether provision was missed. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a symbolic financial payment and carry out service improvements.

London Borough of Brent (24 021 318)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Oct-2025

Summary: The Council has accepted that it failed to provide the special educational provision for the complainant’s brother. We agree with the Council’s findings, but we considered the Council had not fully recognised the injustice caused by the loss of education for the brother and avoidable distress to the family. The Council has now agreed to make a symbolic payment for this injustice. We are therefore closing the complaint.

Staffordshire County Council (25 003 567)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 28-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs M’s complaint because the Council has agreed to respond and undertake a new carer’s assessment. Mrs M can make a new complaint to us if she remains unhappy once the Council has responded to her concerns.

Essex County Council (25 005 916)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about delays in producing an Education Health and Care Plan. We have upheld the complaint, and the Council has agreed to a proportionate way to resolve the complaint.

Essex County Council (25 005 995)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-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.

Essex County Council (25 006 811)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Oct-2025

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

Buckinghamshire Council (25 006 895)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-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.

Staffordshire County Council (24 016 560)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Oct-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council failed to comply with the statutory process for completing an annual review of his child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. We find the Council at fault for a delay in issuing the Education, Health and Care Plan. This delayed Mr X’s appeal rights and caused distress and frustration for the family. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a symbolic payment and complete service improvements to remedy the injustice caused.

Wiltshire Council (24 018 755)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Oct-2025

Summary: Ms F complained the Council failed to deliver her daughter’s (Y) education as set out in her Education, Health and Care Plan, provided insufficient alternative provision, and communicated poorly. We did not find fault by the Council in how it reached its views about Y’s education and the amount of alternative provision it offered. It was at fault for some poor communication, which caused Ms F some distress and uncertainty. The Council agreed to apologise to acknowledge the impact this had on Ms F.

Peterborough City Council (24 021 523)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide SALT and OT as required by an Education, Health and Care Plan and when a remedy was offered this was not delivered as her daughter, Z, was out of school. Mrs X also complained the Council failed to provide alternative education provision when her daughter was out of school for a term. There was fault by the Council in respect of missing SALT provision which impacted on Z’s mental health but the Council has already provided a suitable remedy.