Kent County Council (23 010 490)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 01-Apr-2024

Summary: Ms D complained the Council has failed to provide her son with an education after the SEND Tribunal’s decision in June 2022. She also says the Council delayed responding to her complaint about the matter. We find the Council was at fault for failing to deliver the education and provision in Ms D’s son’s Education, Health and Care Plan. It also significantly delayed responding to Ms D’s complaint. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address the injustice caused by fault.

Kent County Council (23 007 102)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 08-Apr-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to progress her son, C’s, Education, Health and Care plan review and ensure it issued a final plan before 31 March 2023. The Council is at fault as it has delayed issuing a final Education, Health and Care plan for C. The Council will apologise and pay for the loss of educational provision.

Kent County Council (23 013 073)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 09-Apr-2024

Summary: Miss X complained about how the Council arranged alternative provision and special educational provision for her son, Z. The Council was at fault. The fault caused Miss X avoidable frustration and upset and meant Z missed out on educational and special educational provision they needed. To remedy their injustice, the Council will apologise and pay Miss X £4200. The Council recently carried out Ombudsman recommendations to improve its practice so no further actions are needed.

Kent County Council (23 012 170)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 14-Apr-2024

Summary: the Council failed to issue a decision following three annual reviews for an EHC plan. That leaves Mr B with uncertainty about whether the Council would have arranged a new school placement for his son and included therapy in the EHC plan. The Council also delayed responding to a complaint. An apology, payment to Mr B, agreement to issue an EHC plan and putting in place a procedure to manage reviews is satisfactory remedy.

Kent County Council (23 010 994)

Statement Upheld Charging 18-Apr-2024

Summary: Miss X complains the Council has not provided her mother, Mrs Y, with the care set out in her care plan. Miss X says the Council failed to adjust the care plan or the charges made once they pointed out Mrs Y was receiving less than her specified hours. I have found the Council at fault for failing to reduce Mrs Y’s care package in June 2022. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mrs Y and Miss X, backdates the charges, makes a symbolic payment and service improvements to remedy the injustice caused.

Kent County Council (23 006 264)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 28-Apr-2024

Summary: Ms X complained the Council failed to secure a place for their child at their preferred education placement. We found no fault in the Council not securing the place. But we found fault with its communications about this issue and delay in answering Ms X’s complaint. These faults caused unnecessary distress. The Council has accepted these findings. At the end of this statement, we set out the action it has agreed to remedy this injustice.

Kent County Council (23 012 748)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 02-May-2024

Summary: There was continued fault and delay by the Council in completing a statutory reassessment and a failure to secure provision in an Education, Health and Care Plan. There was administrative fault in the way the advice for reassessment was handled. There was also non-compliance with previous Ombudsman agreed recommendations. This caused distress, time, trouble and lost educational provision. The council will apologise, make a financial payment and carry out service improvements.

Kent County Council (23 010 806)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 08-May-2024

Summary: There was fault by the Council. The Council delayed issuing an amended Education, Health and Care Plan after an annual review. This meant the parents appeal rights were delayed. The Council also did not monitor the progress of a funded reintegration plan into school. An apology, payment and revised procedure remedy the injustice of loss of education.

Kent County Council (23 009 845)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 03-Jun-2024

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to complete an annual review of her child, Y’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan following a review meeting in January 2023, failed to provide an education or the provision in their Plan since January 2023 and significantly delayed responding to her complaint about the matters. The Council was at fault. It agreed to make a payment of £5,925 to Mrs X to recognise the injustice caused to her and Y and issue Y’s amended EHC Plan.

Kent County Council (23 010 465)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 09-Jun-2024

Summary: Mr C complained about the Council’s delays during the Education, Health and Care needs assessment process for his son. He also complained the Council’s communication was poor and its handling of the consultation process was flawed. We find the Council was at fault as it delayed issuing Mr C’s son’s Education, Health and Care Plan. It was also at fault for its communication with Mr C and its handling of the consultation process. Finally, it significantly delayed responding to Mr C’s complaint. The Council has agreed to our recommendations to address the injustice caused by fault.