City of York Council (25 005 046)

Report Upheld Special educational needs 15-Oct-2026

Summary: We upheld Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to deliver the provision in her son Y’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. This meant Y’s needs were not sufficiently met, and it caused Mrs X distress. The Council was also at fault for its communication with Mrs X and its handling of her complaint which caused her further distress and uncertainty.

Leeds City Council (25 016 580)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 22-Sep-2026

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to complete the Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessment process and issue her son, Y’s, final EHC Plan within statutory timescales. She also complained it failed to provide appropriate alternative provision to Y. The Council was at fault. It did not complete the EHC assessment process and issue Y’s final EHC Plan within statutory timescales. It also delayed arranging alternative provision for Y and did not appropriately evidence how it considered the amount of provision it offered was suitable. Because of the fault, Ms X suffered uncertainty and a frustrated right of appeal. Y also missed out on provision. The Council will make symbolic payments.

Leicestershire County Council (25 016 773)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 22-Sep-2026

Summary: Ms F complained the Council caused delays in the Education, Health and Care plan process for her daughter (X) and failed to find her a suitable specialist placement. The Council apologised and made a payment to acknowledge the impact its delays caused. We found the Council’s remedy was appropriate. It was not at fault for failing to provide X with an education and special educational needs provision for the 2024/25 academic year as a school and alternative provision placement was available to her.

Blackpool Borough Council (25 025 616)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 22-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a council officer’s conduct and the content of their report for the Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment process. This is because Miss X has used her right of appeal to challenge the Council’s decision not to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan and it would not be a good use of our resources to investigate separately how the Council dealt with her complaint about the matter.

Leicestershire County Council (25 018 902)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Sep-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained her son has been out of education since July 2024 due to delays in the Education Health and Care Plan process. She says the alternative provision has been limited and does not amount to a full-time suitable education which she says has left her unable to work and has caused distress to the whole family. There were delays and the Council failed to properly consider its duties to provide a suitable full-time education including provision for special educational needs. A remedy including an apology and symbolic payment is agreed.

Cumberland Council (25 021 040)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 21-Sep-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate part of Miss X’s complaint about how the Council secured the content of her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan or her complaint about alternative provision because she appealed to a tribunal, and the law says we cannot investigate. We cannot investigate matters relating to her safeguarding concerns about a school because the matters relate to the internal management of a school. We will not investigate the Council’s complaint handling or overview of the concerns because the tests in our Assessment Code are not met.

London Borough of Newham (25 011 206)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 21-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to respond to Mrs X’s requests to confirm who funded the special educational needs provision set out in her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because the issue did not cause Mrs X or her son significant injustice.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council (25 016 821)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Sep-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for not advising Mrs X of the concerns raised by her child, Y’s, school in its consultation response, for delays in amending Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan after an annual review and for delay in arranging provision when Y was out of school. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X and make a payment to acknowledge the frustration, uncertainty, delayed appeal rights and missed provision the faults caused.

Bedford Borough Council (25 025 232)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 21-Sep-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to re-assess her child, Y’s Education, Health and Care needs and that the Council delayed issuing a decision after Y’s annual review. This is because there is no evidence of fault to justify investigating.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (26 015 079)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 21-Sep-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about staff at an educational setting. The law prevents us from investigating certain educational matters. In any case, the complaint is made late.