Families in the South East are the most likely to file Education Complaints about education and children's services provided by their local authorities, according to the Local Government Ombudsman's latest annual report. The report highlights a significant disparity between the South East and the rest of the country in terms of the volume of Education Complaints related to these services.

Complaints in the South East Surpass National Average

The Ombudsman's report reveals that 35% of the enquiries from people in the South East region were about education and children's services. This figure is notably higher than the national average of 27%, indicating a heightened level of concern among families in the South East compared to other regions.

Breakdown of Upheld Complaints by Local Authority

The report provides a detailed breakdown of complaints upheld across various local authorities in the South East. Surrey had the highest number, with 141 complaints upheld across all areas of government. Kent followed with 76 upheld complaints, West Sussex with 36, East Sussex with 28, and Medway with 16. These figures underscore the challenges faced by local authorities in addressing residents' concerns effectively.

Delays in Compliance and Corrective Actions

One of the significant issues highlighted in the report is the difficulty many councils face in complying with the Ombudsman's recommendations promptly. The report notes that one in five councils missed deadlines to correct mistakes, often due to resource and financial constraints.

Ombudsman Comments on Sector Challenges

Amerdeep Somal, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, addressed the challenges faced by local authorities in the report. She noted, "In the majority of cases, the issue isn't a lack of care or responsibility, but rather a sector overwhelmed by challenges. Almost all councils are committed to complying with our recommendations and providing quality services to residents, as indicated by our 99.5% compliance rate. However, limited resources and financial constraints often delay their response."

Increase in Upheld Complaints

The report also revealed a concerning trend: 80% of the total complaints received were upheld, marking a 6% increase from the previous year. This rise suggests that more families are experiencing issues that require intervention and that local authorities may be struggling to keep up with the demand for effective resolutions.