London Borough of Hounslow (24 022 774)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Oct-2025

Summary: The Council was at fault. It did not secure Ms X’s child, Y’s, speech and language therapy (SALT) or occupational therapy (OT), had poor record keeping practices and communicated poorly with Ms X. This caused Ms X frustration and meant Y missed provision to which they were entitled. The Council will apologise to Y, make a symbolic payment to Ms X, review the impact of Y’s lost SALT and OT, consider how it can communicate with Ms X in the future and put in place service improvements.

Central Bedfordshire Council (25 004 933)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 14-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council failed to provide suitable education provision for his daughter or the special educational provision detailed in her Education Health and Care Plan. This is because these matters overlap with a tribunal appeal.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 005 432)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 14-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council taking Mrs X’s child off the school roll, then failing to provide alternative provision. This is because some of the complaint is late without good reason, and Mrs X used her right of appeal to the SEND Tribunal for the other parts.

Slough Borough Council (24 009 992)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 13-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her son with a full-time education and the provision in his Education, Health and Care Plan. She also says the Council’s communication about Education, Otherwise Than At School provision for her son was poor. We find the Council was at fault for how it handled Mrs X’s son’s education and its failure to provide him with the provision in his Education, Health and Care Plan. It was also at fault for its communication with Mrs X. These faults caused distress and upset. Mrs X’s son missed education and provision. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs X, make financial payments and provide training to its staff.

Birmingham City Council (24 017 769)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 13-Oct-2025

Summary: There was fault and delay by the Council in implementing a Tribunal decision and securing provision in an Education, Health and Care Plan. As a result, a child missed out on provision for many months. The Council has agreed to apologise, make symbolic payments and carry out service improvements.

London Borough of Ealing (25 005 952)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 13-Oct-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council failing to provide B with an education as the Tribunal is deciding what that education should be. The Council’s delay in issuing a decision notice following an Education Health and Care Plan review is not significant enough to justify an investigation.

Brighton & Hove City Council (24 013 238)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-Oct-2025

Summary: Dr Y complained about the Council’s handling of S’s Education, Health and Care needs assessment between January 2023 and October 2023. The Council is at fault for delays in adequately assessing its section 19 duties and failing to ensure S received all the provision set out in his plan from October 2023. This caused Dr Y avoidable uncertainty and frustration as well as loss of provision for S. The Council has agreed to apologise to Dr Y, make a payment to recognise the injustice and act to prevent recurrence.

Herefordshire Council (24 019 044)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-Oct-2025

Summary: The outcome of an independent stage two complaint investigation did not provide a suitable remedy when A missed education. The Council failed to secure special educational provision and failed to provide alternative education. The Council has agreed to make additional symbolic payments and service improvements.

Herefordshire Council (24 019 533)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-Oct-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to complete an annual review of her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. We found a sixteen-month delay by the Council in updating the Plan. This caused unnecessary time, trouble, inconvenience and distress. The Council will apologise, make a symbolic payment and service improvements.

Essex County Council (24 020 580)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 12-Oct-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained about the Council’s failure to deliver therapies included in her daughter’s (Y) Education Health and Care Plan, to agree a Personal budget for Y and to review Y’s plan. Mrs X also complained about the way the Council carried out Y’s Education Health and Care needs assessment. We found fault with the Council. This fault caused injustice to Y and Mrs X. The Council has offered a suitable financial remedy. The Council has also agreed to ensure Y receives therapies in the new school year and improve its Personal budget process.