Birmingham City Council (25 014 303)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Jul-2026

Summary: Ms C complained the Council failed to provide her son (X) with an education after he was excluded from school, and it caused delays in the Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan process. We found the Council at fault for failing to adhere to the statutory timescales for the EHC plan process and for delay in its complaints handling. It was also responsible for a service failure to arrange alternative provision which was accessible to X for a school term. The Council will apologise to Ms C and make payment to acknowledge the injustice it caused her and X.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council (25 014 839)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Jul-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault when it failed to ensure Mrs X’s child Y received a suitable education and for not responding to her complaint. The Council has agreed to apologise, make a payment and ensure staff are aware of and follow the Council’s complaints procedure

Essex County Council (25 000 545)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Jul-2026

Summary: Mrs P complained the Council failed to secure the special educational provision in her daughter Q’s Education, Health and Care Plan, failed to provide full time alternative educational provision, did not meet the legal timescale to review the plan, and named a school in the plan that did not want Q to attend. We find the Council at fault for failing to secure some of Q’s special educational provision and missing the deadlines to review the plan which caused missed educational provision and distress. The Council has agreed to make a symbolic payment and apologise.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (25 024 041)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Other 14-Jul-2026

Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about what happened when Mr X’s son swallowed an object at a Council nursery. The law prevents us from investigating complaints about what happens in schools and nurseries.

London Borough of Bromley (25 026 209)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Jul-2026

Summary: Mr X complained the Council delayed in securing a school place for his son, Z, when he moved into the area. We find the Council at fault for a delay in securing special educational provision for Z. This caused Mr X distress and frustration and meant Z missed two terms of education. The Council has agreed to apologise, re-offer its initial remedy and make an additional financial payment to remedy the injustice caused.

Mount Carmel RC High School (26 004 766)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 14-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the independent appeal panel’s decision not to admit her son to the school because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.

Somerset Council (26 005 871)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Jul-2026

Summary: There was excessive delay by the Council in completing an Education, Health and Care needs assessment and in issuing a final Plan. This caused distress, frustration and uncertainty. The Council will now issue the Plan and will make a financial payment to acknowledge the injustice caused.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (26 006 235)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries School admissions 14-Jul-2026

Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about an email because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.

Birmingham City Council (25 013 846)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 13-Jul-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault for issuing Ms Z’s amended final Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan in November 2025 without carrying out an annual review and failed to communicate properly with Mrs X between May and August 2025. The Council agreed to apologise and make a payment to Mrs X and Ms Z to acknowledge the uncertainty and frustration it caused. It also agreed to carry out service improvements.

London Borough of Haringey (25 001 875)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 13-Jul-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to secure suitable educational provision for her son, Y. We found the Council at fault for failing to secure suitable education for a significant period after becoming aware he was no longer receiving home education. There were also delays in securing special educational provision, poor communication, and delays in responding to Mrs X's complaint. This caused Y to miss a significant amount of education, and caused Mrs X avoidable distress, frustration and uncertainty. The Council will apologise, make a symbolic payment, and remind staff of its duties to secure suitable education for children not attending school.