Staffordshire County Council (24 016 761)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Sep-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council delayed beginning her child’s Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment and issuing their Education, Health and Care Plan. She said it also delayed in responding to her complaint. We found the Council was at fault for some of the delays. The Council agreed to apologise to Mrs X and make a payment to her, and another for her child’s benefit, to remedy the injustice caused in terms of uncertainty, frustration, and unmet needs.

Derbyshire County Council (24 018 679)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Sep-2025

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council delayed agreeing to, then completing, an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, and this prevented her son, B, from accessing support. We have found that the Council is at fault for the delays. It has agreed to pay £500 in recognition of the avoidable uncertainty and inconvenience caused to Mrs X and B.

Surrey County Council (24 020 495)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 16-Sep-2025

Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the named school in her child’s Education, Health and Care Plan, the Council’s decision-making, or the Council’s poor communication. Mrs X appealed to the SEND Tribunal, and the law says we cannot investigate.

Cornwall Council (24 021 118)

Statement Not upheld School transport 16-Sep-2025

Summary: There was no fault in the way the Council dealt with an appeal against new school transport arrangements. We have completed our investigation.

Essex County Council (24 022 634)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 16-Sep-2025

Summary: The Council was at fault for not issuing an updated Education, Health and Care Plan following an annual review. This meant Ms X’s child did not receive the most up to date support. The Council agreed to apologise to Ms X and make a payment to her.

St. Bedes Catholic Junior School (25 007 865)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 16-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about an unsuccessful school admission appeal for her daughter. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the panel for us to be able to question its decision.

North Northamptonshire Council (25 008 723)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School transport 16-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse Mrs X’s application for free home-to-school transport for her child. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the Council.

Lancashire County Council (25 009 295)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 16-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s school’s admissions appeal panel refusing her appeal. It is unlikely we would find fault which caused Mrs X to lose out on a school place.

West Sussex County Council (25 003 971)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 16-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of an Education, Health and Care Plan. This is because parts of the complaint are late, we cannot investigate matters that went to tribunal, and there is not enough evidence of fault to warrant investigation.

London Borough of Hounslow (25 004 065)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Special educational needs 16-Sep-2025

Summary: We will not investigate the complaints about the content of an Education, Health and Care Plan, the process the Council used to create it, or delays in the assessment. This is because Mrs X has used her right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (SEND) about these matters and the remaining complaints are late.