Council Admits Failures in Child’s Education Disrupted
North Northamptonshire Council has been ordered to pay £1,600 in compensation to a family after significant delays in providing an Education Disrupted, Health and Care (EHC) plan for their child. The Local Government Ombudsman found that the council’s actions caused “uncertainty and distress” for the family.
Ten-Month Delay in EHC Plan
The child’s mother initially requested an EHC assessment in spring 2022, but the council lost the application. A second request was made in the autumn of that year, with the plan finally issued in early summer of 2023. The Ombudsman ruled that the final EHC plan should have been issued within 20 weeks of the first application.
Missed Education Disrupted and Financial Compensation
Due to the delays, the child missed three weeks of tuition after the start of the school term. The Ombudsman awarded the family £1,000 for distress and £600 for the missed education.
The Council Apologizes and Promises Changes
North Northamptonshire Council has accepted the Ombudsman’s findings and apologized for the delays. The council’s leader, Jason Smithers, admitted that the delays were avoidable and pledged to review the council’s policies and procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.
Wider Problems with Special Needs Services
This is not the first time the council has faced criticism over its handling of special educational needs. Earlier this month, it paid out nearly £10,000 in compensation to another family due to missed education. A recent inspection also highlighted “widespread and systemic failings” in the council’s special needs services, leading to the publication of an action plan to address the issues.
The council is under increasing pressure to improve its support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.