NEWS
Aug 11, 2022
Ombudsman finds county council did not arrange appropriate transport in time for boy with special needs
A Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation has found that Hampshire County Council expected a young child with special educational needs to travel on their own in a taxi to school – or face a three-hour round-trip in shared transport, which would exceed its own guidance on the maximum time limit on school journeys.
Aug 11, 2022
Fresh judicial review claim filed in Holland Park School dispute
Parents of Holland Park School students have launched a third judicial review application in four months over a decision to move the school from a single-academy trust to a multi-academy trust.
Aug 04, 2022
City council to pay £8,550, amend its Direct Payments Policy after Ombudsman finds it failed disabled teenage siblings
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has criticised Liverpool City Council for not ensuring two teenage siblings with significant needs were provided with the support they should have received for 18 months.
Jul 28, 2022
LGA warns on funding of SEND reforms, backs mandatory mediation of disputes
Attempts in the Children and Families Act 2014 to improve provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) failed through lack of sufficient powers and funds for councils, the Local Government Association (LGA) has said in its response to the latest round of proposed changes to the system.
Jul 22, 2022
County council to back pay £8k in personal budget payments for child after Ombudsman finds "numerous and serious failings"
Surrey County Council will pay more than £9,000 to a mother after a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation found the local authority consistently made flawed decisions relating to her child's personal budget "by reason of not having robust systems and policies".
Jul 20, 2022
High Court to hear judicial review claim regarding impact of school closure on Welsh language
The High Court has given permission for a judicial review challenge over Neath Port Talbot Council's decision to close three English medium schools in the Pontardawe area to establish one English medium school.
Jul 19, 2022
High Court finds that Ombudsman did not give enough reasons for refusal to investigate complaint
A Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's (LGSCO) position that it could not investigate an autistic man's complaint that Oldham Council had made numerous claims it sought his views, when in fact it had not, was wrong, the High Court has ruled.
Jul 15, 2022
City council to pay complainant £25k in compensation for missed education and delayed complaint response
Sheffield City Council has agreed to pay more than £25,000 in compensation to a vulnerable woman after a Local Government, and Social Care Ombudsman investigation found she had gone without education for more than four years.
Jul 08, 2022
Secretary of State for Education facing judicial review over content of SEND green paper consultation
The Secretary of State for Education has been threatened with a legal claim arguing that its consultation on the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) green paper fails to provide consultees with information about the inability of the First-tier Tribunal (SEND)("FTT") to award damages as a remedy to successful claimants.
Jul 08, 2022
Dorset to improve alternative education provision after boy misses out on education for nearly two years
An Ombudsman investigation has found that a boy with special educational needs missed out on education for almost two years, after Dorset Council failed to provide the boy with proper alternative education.
Jul 08, 2022
Department for Education facing judicial review over content of SEND green paper consultation
The Secretary of State for Education has been threatened with a legal claim arguing that its consultation on the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) green paper fails to provide consultees with information about the inability of the First-tier Tribunal to award damages as a remedy to successful claimants.
Jul 08, 2022
Ombudsman criticises councils over failure to provide alternative education for children who need it
A Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation has found failures by some councils to put in place alternative education for children who need it, "robbing them of their potential to thrive".