Council Issues Apology Admits to Service Failure, Pays Compensation

Surrey County Council (SCC) has issued a formal apology to a young girl who was deprived of full-time education for at least six months, receiving only 13 hours of online tuition per week. The social care ombudsman’s investigation revealed significant lapses in the council’s duty to provide a suitable education for the child, referred to as Y in the report.

Report Highlights Educational Neglect

A detailed report uncovered that Council Issues Apology did not ensure Y received the necessary educational support while she was unable to attend school due to illness. The report criticized the council for not meeting its legal obligations to provide education that matched the child’s abilities and needs.

Financial Compensation and Public Apology

As a result of the investigation, Council Issues Apology was ordered to pay the family £1,000 in compensation. A spokesperson for the council stated, "We accept the findings from the report and sincerely apologize for any distress caused." This acknowledgment came with an admission of a "service failure," which indicated that SCC had defaulted on its legal duty.

Lack of Adequate Educational Provision

Y stopped attending her mainstream school in February 2023 due to illness. The report stated, “It was unclear how or why the school determined 13 hours of online tuition per week was appropriate.” The ombudsman expected the council to objectively assess whether the education arranged by the school was suitable for Y's needs.

Missed Statutory Deadlines

Further scrutiny revealed that SCC failed to complete an annual review and Council Issues Apology a final education plan within the required statutory timeframes. The ombudsman described these delays as “both concerning and clearly unacceptable,” further compounding the service failure by SCC.

Council’s Commitment to Improvement

The council stated it could not comment on individual cases but emphasized its commitment to improving services. Clare Curran, cabinet member for children, families, and lifelong learning, said, "We are working hard to improve services, and our most recent inspection noted progress is underway. We have been reviewing our arrangements for providing and following up on alternative provision in situations where young people are unable to attend school."

Moving Forward

SCC’s public acknowledgment of the issue and their stated commitment to improvement suggest a step forward in addressing the shortcomings in their educational support system. The council's efforts will be closely monitored to ensure that all children, regardless of their circumstances, receive the education they are legally entitled to.