North Northamptonshire Council (24 010 932)

Statement Not upheld School transport 03-Jun-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council failed to properly consider all the relevant information when she appealed its decision to deny school transport assistance for her son Y. She said the decision has had significant negative impacts; causing anxiety, stress and logistical challenges for Y and the family. We find no fault in the way the Council made its decision. Because of this we cannot question the outcome.

London Borough of Brent (24 011 018)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Jun-2025

Summary: Miss X complained the Council failed to properly support her child, Y’s, special educational needs. There was fault in how the Council failed to keep Y’s alternative education under review and how it decided to withdraw school transport. As a result, Y missed out on education for over a term and this caused Miss X avoidable inconvenience and distress. The Council agreed to apologise, pay Miss X a financial remedy and issue reminders to its staff.

Brighton & Hove City Council (24 011 749)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Jun-2025

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to secure provision set out in Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan once they moved into its area. The Council is at fault for not securing Y’s provision, causing a loss of education. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to recognise the loss of education and put provision in place and act to prevent recurrence.

London Borough of Newham (24 012 473)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Jun-2025

Summary: Mr X complained the Council did not secure the special educational provision listed in his child’s, Y’s, Education Health and Care Plan. We find the Council failed to secure speech and language therapy and occupational therapy it should have, and had poor complaint handling. This caused injustice in the form of missed educational provision, distress and time and trouble. The Council agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment to remedy the injustice.

Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (24 013 964)

Statement Not upheld Alternative provision 03-Jun-2025

Summary: There was no fault in the Council’s handling of a situation where a child was missing education. It took appropriate steps to make arrangements for alternative provision. We have therefore completed our investigation.

Cumberland Council (24 013 967)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Jun-2025

Summary: The Council failed to consider an interim review Miss X’s child, Y’s, Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan when they stopped attending school in April 2024. It also delayed reviewing the Plan when Y’s alternative provision failed. This caused Miss X a period of uncertainty and Y to miss out on two terms of the provision in their Plan. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Miss X and review its approach to interim EHC Plan reviews.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (24 006 570)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Jun-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council delayed completing an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment and failed to issue an EHC Plan for her child, Y, within statutory timescales. Mrs X also complained the Council delayed processing Y’s personal budget and did not pay the full amount. Mrs X said these faults caused avoidable distress and uncertainty. She said it also led to Y missing special educational provision. We have found the Council at fault for its delay in processing and paying Y‘s personal budget. The Council has agreed to provide a written apology and pay a symbolic financial remedy to recognise Y’s missed special educational provision. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about delays in the EHC needs assessment. We explain why in this statement.

Westmorland and Furness Council (24 015 094)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 03-Jun-2025

Summary: Mr X complained about the Council’s failure to act on his request for a reassessment of his daughter’s Education, Health and Care Plan, failure to provide alternative provision, and delay paying for a Speech and Language Therapy report. We find the Council at fault causing avoidable distress, uncertainty, and denied and delayed appeal rights. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment to Mr X, and make service improvements.

Brighton & Hove City Council (24 017 256)

Statement Upheld School admissions 03-Jun-2025

Summary: The Council was at fault in how it decided to refuse Miss X’s appeal to admit her child, W, to her preferred school. This caused Miss X uncertainty and frustration. To remedy her injustice, the Council will apologise, pay her £100 and hold a new appeal hearing. It should also remind school admission appeal clerks they must keep suitable records of appeal panel’s decision-making.

Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council (24 019 133)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 03-Jun-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Education, Health and Care Plan process for her daughter. Mrs X has appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). This places the complaint outside our jurisdiction.