Title

EDUCATION

County to review its SEN services following ombudsman investigation

Hampshire County Council has agreed to reviews its SEN services following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Hampshire CC has agreed to reviews its SEN services following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

A mother had complained to the ombudsman after her son, who has ADHD, was left with three months of inadequate SEN provision and three months of missed education when he was no longer able to attend mainstream school.

The investigation found the council did not do enough to find alternative education for the boy, delaying the statutory process at times and not telling the mother she could appeal the council's actions at the SEND tribunal.

As a result, the council has agreed to reviews the resources it puts into its SEN team and has reviewed the details of its SEN recovery plan. The council also paid the family compensation for the missed education and distress caused.

Michael King, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said: 'This case, and three others I have recently issued about services for children with SEND in the county, highlight the significant impact delays can have on families when councils do not complete their duties within the statutory timescales.

'I am pleased the council has accepted my recommendations in this case and hope the review of services it has agreed to make will ensure children with SEN in Hampshire are better served in future.'

A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said it always worked closely with the ombudsman to resolve any complaints and improve services.

The spokesperson added: 'In this case, we have complied with all the recommendations set out in the ombudsman's report, including issuing a formal apology to the parent and making a payment of £3,300 in compensation.

'We have also made improvements to our special educational needs and disability service processes and practices to ensure that, going forward, agreed changes to Educational, Health and Care Plans are made promptly, so that the final Plan is issued as quickly as possible, and within the statutory deadlines.'

EDUCATION

Impact of ICB cuts leads councils to moot legal challenge

By Paul Marinko | 06 November 2026

Councils have been warned they may need to test the legalities of Integrated Care Board (ICBs) cuts as restructuring plans leave gaps for them to fill.

EDUCATION

Uncertainty looms over future unitaries' budgets

By Dan Peters | 05 November 2026

Unitary councils being created in 2029 face a ‘material uncertainty’ over their opening budgets after the Government pushed back reorganisation, a senior fin...

EDUCATION

Worcestershire CC budget: Social care costs and local government funding pressures

By Phil Rook | 04 November 2026

Rising social care costs and funding uncertainty are a challenge as Worcestershire prepares for reorganisation, says Phil Rook.

EDUCATION

When a software flaw becomes a council wide concern

By Mark Brett | 02 November 2026

Following the discovery of vulnerabilities within the PHP programming language, Mark Brett looks at how local government leaders can strengthen cyber resilie...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman

-->