Derbyshire County Council (24 004 015)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 14-Oct-2025

Summary: We found fault on Mrs Y’s complaint about the Council failing to ensure her son Z received the provision set out in his Education, Health and Care plan. It failed to show it considered whether alternative provision was needed and whether provision under his plan was being provided when circumstances changed. It also delayed holding an annual review of his plan. The Council agreed to send her an apology, £3,600 for lost educational provision, £200 for the delay, and review its procedures to ensure the failures found cannot be repeated on future cases.

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.

Hampshire County Council (24 021 445)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 13-Oct-2025

Summary: Miss X complained that since 2021, the Council has not provided her child with a suitable education. We find the Council at fault for failing to secure the special educational provision in her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan and for failing to consider whether it had a duty to arrange alternative provision while her child was not attending school. This caused a loss of specialist support and avoidable uncertainty. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Miss X.

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.

Wiltshire Council (25 006 282)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 13-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s investigation of a nursery fee policy. There is insufficient evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Leicester City Council (25 005 396)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 13-Oct-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a Council officer declining to allow Mrs X’s husband to accompany her into an interview. There is not enough evidence of fault by the Council to warrant investigation. We would also be unlikely to recommend more than the Council has already offered by refunding an application fee and offering to re-run the process with Mrs X’s husband present at the interview.