North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council (24 020 290)

Report Upheld Alternative provision 04-Feb-2026

Summary: We found the Council delayed for 13 months in arranging alternative educational provision from February 2024 after Mrs X’s child, Y, was unable to attend school. This is the second time we have found the Council at fault for failing to provide education to Y. This caused Y to miss out on a suitable education and caused Mrs X distress, frustration and uncertainty.

Surrey County Council (25 011 022)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 06-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s consultation into changes to its post-16 transport policy. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant an investigation.

West Sussex County Council (25 011 158)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 06-Jan-2026

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the school named in an Education Health and Care Plan. It would be reasonable for Miss X to appeal to the tribunal about the contents of the plan.

East Sussex County Council (24 007 784)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council failed to secure a special school place as set out in a pupil’s child’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. The Council also failed to secure education and special educational provision between March and October 2024. The uncertainty whether these failures contributed to the pupil’s disengagement from education and inability to sit GCSE’s is an injustice. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a symbolic payment and make service improvements.

North Lincolnshire Council (24 018 153)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for its poor communications. But it was not at fault for how it handled Ms X’s child’s education. We are satisfied the Council has apologised for the injustice caused.

Brighton & Hove City Council (24 022 378)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Jan-2026

Summary: We find service failure for some delays implementing some of Ms X’s child’s special educational provision. This caused Ms X injustice. We are satisfied the Council has apologised. We do not agree with Ms X that the Council should reimburse her.

Derbyshire County Council (25 001 691)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Jan-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide her son Y’s school with enough funding to secure the special educational provision in his Education Health and Care Plan, did not meet the statutory timescales when it reviewed the plan, and had poor communication when she raised concerns. She said this meant Y missed a lot of education and caused significant stress and anxiety. We find the Council failed to secure Y’s special educational provision, missed a statutory deadline in the review process and had a poor standard of communication. This caused injustice in the form of missed educational provision, distress and uncertainty. The Council agreed to make a symbolic payment and apologise to remedy the injustice.

London Borough of Havering (25 002 039)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 06-Jan-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s refusal to issue her child an Education Health and Care Plan. This is because Mrs X has used her right of appeal against the Council’s decision.

Worcestershire County Council (25 002 513)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 06-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council is at fault for failing to provide alternative provision for Ms X’s child, Y. The Council also failed to produce a final Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan within the statutory timescales. The Council has already provided an appropriate remedy for the failure to provide alternative provision but it should apologise to Ms X and make a payment to recognise the uncertainty and frustration caused by the EHC Plan delays.

Surrey County Council (25 003 944)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 06-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for the delay in providing the occupational therapy provision outlined in Mrs X’s child Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan. It was also at fault for failing to properly consider its alternative provision duty when Y’s placement at their school broke down. The Council will apologise and make a symbolic payment to Mrs X to acknowledge the avoidable impact of its faults.