Child Y, an autistic student, has been attending a special school placement since September 2024, following a series of educational setbacks. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that Slough Borough Council failed to secure the necessary educational provisions as part of Child Y's care plan. This failure has prompted a recommendation for the council to pay £6,500 in compensation to both the child and the mother, Ms X, acknowledging the lost special educational provision (SEP) and the distress caused.
The situation arose when Ms X opted not to send her child to the recommended school due to the absence of available places at her preferred institution. As a result, Child Y was home-schooled by Ms X from June 2022 until September 2023. During this period, alternative tuition was provided but did not fully meet the requirements of Y's Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. The ombudsman's report highlighted these discrepancies, noting that the council had failed to deliver Y's education, health, and care plan between September 2023 and July 2024.
The council initially stated that it would review the placement situation in October. However, months of complaints from Ms X and continued correspondence between relevant institutions persisted until the summer following the review. The ombudsman concluded that the council's poor response to Ms X's complaints caused her "confusion and frustration," exacerbating the situation.
In addition to the £6,000 recommended for Child Y's lost SEP, the report suggested an additional payment of £500 to Ms X. This figure aims to reflect her "avoidable distress and time and trouble complaining." This case follows a previous incident where Slough Borough Council was ordered to pay a mother £9,400 after her autistic son was deprived of education for more than a year.
The ombudsman's findings underscored Slough Borough Council's responsibility in ensuring appropriate educational provisions for children with special needs. The report emphasized the importance of meeting the requirements outlined in EHC plans and maintaining effective communication with parents and guardians.
