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.

Essex County Council (25 013 424)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 09-Jun-2026

Summary: We find the Council failed to ensure that Miss X’s child, Y, received the occupational therapy provision set out in their Education, Health and Care Plan following a Tribunal decision. As a result, Y was without this provision for a significant period. This also caused Miss X distress, frustration and uncertainty. The Council will apologise, make a financial payment to Miss X to recognise the loss of provision, reconsider Miss X’s personal budget request and issue a clear written decision on that request. It should also remind staff of the requirement to provide written decisions on personal budget requests.

London Borough of Haringey (25 021 973)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 09-Jun-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate part of Miss X’s complaint about the process by which her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan was made because she appealed to a tribunal, and the law says we cannot investigate. We will not investigate the Council’s poor communication or complaint handling because the Council apologised and an investigation is unlikely to achieve anything else.

Essex County Council (25 022 164)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 09-Jun-2026

Summary: We have upheld this complaint about the Council’s failure to complete an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for Miss 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.

Surrey County Council (25 021 097)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 09-Jun-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s assessment and consultation process before it issued an Education Health and Care Plan because Mr X appealed to the Tribunal.

Surrey County Council (25 021 295)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 09-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the education and support provided for her child, Y over the last five years. Part of the complaint is late. In relation to the Council’s recent actions, it is unlikely we would find fault or that an investigation would lead to a different outcome.

Essex County Council (25 021 495)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 09-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about delays in the Education Health and Care Plan process. This is because the Council has agreed to apologise to Miss 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.

Birmingham City Council (25 020 082)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 09-Jun-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council refusing to hold an early review of an Education Health and Care Plan or to provide alternative provision. It is unlikely we will find fault. It is reasonable to expect her to have appealed to the Tribunal the suitability and adequacy of the education provision in the Education Health and Care Plan.

Hampshire County Council (24 017 268)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 09-Jun-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her child, Y, with suitable education for over two years and delayed the Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment process. Mrs X said she waited seven months for mediation when it should have taken 30 days. She also complained the Council delayed dealing with her complaint. Mrs X said this distressed her and Y missed education. There was fault in the way the Council delayed mediation, did not ensure Y received education and potential plan provision and its complaint handling was poor. This frustrated Mrs X and Y missed education and potential EHC Plan provision. The Council agreed to apologise and make a financial payment.

Essex County Council (25 025 602)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 09-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.