Case Ref: 23 004 019 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will review staffing levels in the special educational needs and disability term and put in place a plan to ensure there are enough case officers.

Case Ref: 23 001 615 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to deliver refresher training on its complaints procedure to all its staff who handle and respond to complaints. This training will ensure they are fully aware of the Council’s responsibility to meet timescales and communicate effectively with complainants.

Case Ref: 23 000 833 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will remind relevant staff to commission specialist interventions such as occupational therapy and speach and language therapy for children at the earliest opportunity where there is a change of circumstances, to avoid loss of specialist educational provision.
• The Council will remind relevant staff to adhere to the timescales set out in the statutory guidance when issuing its decision, draft or final amended Education, Health and Care Plan after a review meeting.

Case Ref: 22 016 575 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• Council should review its working practices and policies so that it retains oversight and responsibility for its duties to children unable to attend school.

Case Ref: 22 015 056 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to remind all staff within the education department of the duties and the Council’s policy under section 19 of the Education Act 1990. This should include the government guidance on when alternative provision should be offered.

Case Ref: 22 014 257 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• Remind staff of the Council’s responsibilities to ensure the provision set out in the EHCP is secured and provided.

Case Ref: 22 012 010 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will remind officers dealing with EHCPs of the need to follow the timescales set out in the code of practice when issuing EHCPs following reviews.
• The Council will remind officers dealing with complaints of the need to ensure the person responding to complaints at stage one is the appropriate line manager or service manager, in accordance with the Council’s complaints procedure.
• The Council will remind officers dealing with complaints of the need to ensure that when responding to a complaint at stage two an alternative manager is identified where the person that would normally be tasked with responding to the complaint has already had involvement at an earlier stage of the complaints process.
• The Council will ensure there is a proper handover process when officers dealing with special educational needs cases leave so the officer taking over the case is aware of the outstanding issues.

Case Ref: 22 011 497 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council will either provide evidence of the new training and guidance delivered to relevant staff on personal budgets or, If not delivered, evidence of the proposed training content and information about timescales for delivery.

Case Ref: 22 009 089 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council should review its procedures to ensure Annual Reviews are held on time and the action required following the review meeting is taken according to the guidance and timescales.
• The Council should remind staff to ensure they consult schools and professionals in good time, issue the EHC plan within the timescales and keep young people and parents informed.

Case Ref: 22 009 044 Category: Education Sub Category: Special educational needs

• The Council has agreed to circulate guidance to its complaints staff to remind them they should, where appropriate, offer financial remedies to complainants in response to upheld complaints.