Dorset Council (24 023 080)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 23-Dec-2025

Summary: The Council was at fault in the way it handled the transfer and review of Y’s EHCP, the provision of SEN support, education while out of school, and aspects of communication. These faults caused injustice to Y and Mr X. However, the Council has already provided a suitable remedy in line with Ombudsman guidance, and so I do not recommend any further action.

Staffordshire County Council (25 008 964)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 23-Dec-2025

Summary: We have upheld this complaint because the Council delayed carrying out an Education Health and Care needs assessment for a child. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint by providing a suitable remedy.

Leicestershire County Council (25 010 114)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 23-Dec-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about the school named in an Education Health and Care Plan, or a failure to provide education. Mr X has appealed to the SEND Tribunal about the matter and therefore the law says we cannot investigate. Nor will we investigate Mr X’s further complaint about delays in the annual review process. When considering this complaint, the Council agreed to provide a suitable remedy for Mr X’s injustice and there are no wider public interest issues to justify investigating this complaint.

Staffordshire County Council (25 012 539)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 23-Dec-2025

Summary: We have upheld this complaint because the Council delayed carrying out an Education Health and Care needs assessment for a child. The Council has agreed to resolve the complaint by providing a suitable remedy.

Staffordshire County Council (24 016 139)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 22-Dec-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council poorly managed the process for issuing her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. We find the Council at fault for a delay in issuing the final Education, Health and Care Plan, poor communication and a delay in issuing responses to Miss X’s complaints. The delays in issuing the final Education, Health and Care Plan impacted B’s access to education during a key transition year. The Council has agreed to apologise to Miss X and make a symbolic payment to remedy the injustice caused.

Slough Borough Council (24 017 168)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 22-Dec-2025

Summary: We have found the Council at fault for its delay in issuing Y’s final amended Education, Health and Care Plan following an annual review. This delayed Miss X’s appeal rights, causing her avoidable distress. We have also found fault with the Council for its delay in securing alternative provision when Y stopped attending school. This caused Y to miss 2.5 terms of education. The Council has agreed to remedy the injustice caused.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 021 377)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 22-Dec-2025

Summary: Miss B complained the Council delayed issuing her son’s education, health and care plan. We found fault which caused distress, uncertainty and delay to appeal rights. The Council has agreed to make a symbolic payment to Miss B to remedy this.

London Borough of Newham (24 022 392)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 22-Dec-2025

Summary: The Council delayed issuing an Education, Health and Care Plan for Mr X’s child, Z, and failed to properly handle his complaints. This was fault and caused Mr X frustration and delayed his right of appeal to a tribunal. The Council also failed to ensure Z received all their speech and language sessions. However the Council’s faults did not lead to the injustice claimed, as these sessions were missed in part because Mr X refused the speech and language provision when this was offered.

Cambridgeshire County Council (24 023 329)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 22-Dec-2025

Summary: The Council was at fault for significant delay in assessing Miss X’s child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. The delay caused Miss X frustration and uncertainty and meant her child missed out on the special education provision. The Council also failed to properly consider if Miss X’s child needed free school transport. To remedy their injustice, the Council will apologise to Miss X, make symbolic payments and reimburse her fuel costs. It will also issue a staff reminder on free school transport.

Brighton & Hove City Council (25 005 079)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 22-Dec-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X complaint about an Education Health and Care Plan transfer. There is insufficient evidence of fault to justify investigating. Mr X has also not suffered significant injustice because of the Council’s actions.