Derbyshire County Council (25 006 348)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Jul-2026

Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s delays with completing the annual review process of her child’s, Y, Education, Health and Care Plan. Miss X also complained about the Council’s failure to provide Y with the provision set out in his Plan. There was fault by the Council which caused injustice to Y and Miss X. The Council will take action to remedy the injustice caused.

Staffordshire County Council (25 008 553)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Jul-2026

Summary: Mrs X says the Council failed to provide the education and physiotherapy provision set out in her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. She reports this issue has caused her child a great deal of distress and Mrs X has had to pay for physiotherapy provision herself. We found the Council at fault. It did not fulfil its responsibility to provide the provision fully. It should apologise and make payments to Mrs X to recognise the injustice caused.

Lancashire County Council (25 011 684)

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

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s consultation and assessment before issuing an Education Health and Care Plan as Mr X appealed to the Tribunal. We also cannot investigate the education provision in the meantime as it is not separable from the disagreement about what is a suitable setting.

Norfolk County Council (25 012 333)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Jul-2026

Summary: We found fault with the Council not suitably investigating Mr X’s concerns about the lack of one-to-one Education, Health and Care Plan provision in place for his child on his first contact. We also found fault with the Council not meeting its response timescales at stage one of Mr X’s complaint. The Council’s actions caused uncertainty, distress and frustration to Mr X. The Council agreed to apologise to Mr X and provide a symbolic financial gesture for the injustice caused by its fault.

Cambridgeshire County Council (25 012 639)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Jul-2026

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to comply with legal timescales when completing an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment for her daughter Y, did not correctly seek health and social care advice during the process, and failed to provide alternative educational provision. We find the Council at fault for missing legal timescales, not seeking advice correctly, and not making a timely decision on whether it owed a duty to provide alternative provision. This caused injustice in the form of uncertainty and frustration. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to remedy the injustice.

Birmingham City Council (25 013 434)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 21-Jul-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to deliver the provision detailed in her child, Y’s, Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. Mrs X said this distressed her, Y’s needs were not assessed, and she spent time and trouble challenging the Council. There was fault. The Council did not ensure Y received the provision in the EHC Plan and its complaint handling was poor. This frustrated Mrs X and caused uncertainty. The Council should apologise and make a financial payment.

Oxfordshire County Council (25 022 733)

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

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to visit a 9 year old boy at home because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation, and nothing we could add to the Council’s response.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (25 024 043)

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

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about delays in assessing and meeting the complainant’s child’s education, health and care needs. This is because the complaint is late in part, and the complainant has used her right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

West Northamptonshire Council (25 013 090)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 20-Jul-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to secure suitable education for Y while he was out of school and delayed completing a reassessment of his Education, Health and Care needs. The Council was at fault for delay in agreeing to a reassessment and for not securing suitable education, causing frustration and meaning Y missed out on education he was entitled to. The Council has agreed to apologise and make payment to recognise the injustice caused.

Oxfordshire County Council (25 014 335)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 20-Jul-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to ensure her daughter received a suitable education when she was unable to attend school. Mrs X also complained the Council has failed to ensure her daughter received the special educational provision set out in Section F of her Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. We found the Council’s failure to ensure Y received a suitable full time education between November 2024 and July 2025 is fault. As is the failure to provide the provision set out in the EHC Plan. These faults have caused Mrs X and Y distress and uncertainty and meant Y missed out on a suitable education for a whole academic year. The Council will apologise and make a payment to Mrs X.