Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (24 018 663)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 27-Jul-2025

Summary: Ms X complained that the Council delayed issuing her child’s final Education, Health and Care Plan following an annual review. She also says the Council failed to respond to her request for a Personal Budget in 2024. We find the Council at fault for its delays in the annual review process, and for failing to respond to Ms X’s request for a Personal Budget in this time. This fault resulted in the delay of Ms X’s appeal rights and caused avoidable distress and uncertainty for the family. The Council has agreed to apologise to Ms X, pay her £250, and remind its staff of their statutory duty to respond to Personal Budget requests.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (24 018 192)

Statement Upheld Charging 17-Sep-2025

Summary: Mr B complained the Council reclaimed surplus direct payment funds from his son, Mr C’s, direct payment account which left him without respite support. He also complained the Council told the family they could no longer use their respite provider as they did not have a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration. There was fault by the Council. The Council did not ensure annual reviews were carried out for Mr C’s direct payment account. Because of the fault, Mr B and Mr C suffered distress and uncertainty while the Council investigated matters and carried out a review of Mr C’s direct payment account. The Council has agreed to apologise to Mr B and Mr C, make symbolic payments, and issue staff briefings.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (24 012 171)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 10-Nov-2025

Summary: Miss X complained that the Council failed to provide appropriate support for her daughter, J. We find that the Council failed to issue a final Education, Health and Care Plan, failed to ensure J received all the provision set out in her Plan, and failed to ensure she received the support it had identified she needed as a child in need. The Council has agreed to apologise, make payments to Miss X and J, and issue a final Plan without further delay. It has also agreed to make service improvements.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 000 407)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 11-Dec-2025

Summary: The Council failed to maintain oversight of Miss X’s child, Y’s, education while they were out of school. It also failed to review Y’s Education, Health and Care Plan and delayed implementing Education other than at School (EOTAS) provision. This caused Miss X uncertainty over Y’s education and Y to miss out on half a term’s EOTAS provision. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a payment to Miss X.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (23 013 452)

Statement Upheld Safeguarding 17-Dec-2025

Summary: Mr X’s main complaint is that the Council failed to properly assess his needs in July 2023 and then failed to respond to his complaint about the assessment. We find that the Council did not follow the correct process as it failed to send a copy of Mr X’s assessment to him and then deleted the assessment. The Council also did not respond to Mr X's complaint about the assessment. However, the Council’s offer of a re-assessment soon after Mr X complained, has mitigated a lot of the injustice Mr X suffered because of the fault.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 000 981)

Statement Upheld Special educational needs 30-Jan-2026

Summary: The Council was at fault in failing to provide Mrs X’s child, Y, with alternative education provision during the 2024/25 school year. As a result, Y missed out on education for a full academic year. The Council was also at fault in its handling of Mrs X’s complaint, which caused her frustration and time and trouble. The Council has agreed payments to remedy the injustice caused by its faults.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (25 001 312)

Statement Upheld Alternative provision 30-Jan-2026

Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to provide the special educational provision detailed in her child, Y’s, Education, Health and Care Plan. We find the Council at fault for a delay in providing educational provision when it was aware the named setting was unable to meet Y’s needs. This caused Mrs X distress and frustration and meant Y missed out on education for approximately three months. The Council has agreed to apologise and make a symbolic payment.