Family given £1,600 for delays in child's education

North Northamptonshire Council has accepted the ombudsman's findings

A council will pay £1,600 in compensation over delays to a child's special educational needs assessment and school place allocation.

The Local Government Ombudsman said North Northamptonshire Council caused "uncertainty" and "distress" for the child.

It said there was a 10-month delay in the child in receiving an education, health and care plan (EHCP).

The council has apologised and said it would work with the student so they receive "vital education".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the child's mother initially requested an EHCP assessment in spring 2022, but her application was lost and was not processed by the council.

A second request for her child was submitted in autumn that year, with the plan eventually issued in early summer 2023.

The ombudsman ruled that a final EHCP should have been issued within 20 weeks of the first application, in summer 2022.

It also found the council did not start consulting with schools early enough.

'Delays were avoidable'

As no school place was named in time for the start of term, the council began providing tuition. However, that also began three weeks late.

The watchdog told the local authority to pay the mother £1,000 for "distress, time and trouble" and another £600 in recognition of the three weeks of missed education.

Jason Smithers, leader of North Northamptonshire Council, said the authority "accepts the findings" and apologised.

He said the delays were "avoidable" and the authority would review its policies and procedures "to ensure that this does not happen again".

Earlier this month, the council paid out almost £10,000 in compensation to a family over missed education.

It also published an action plan this month for children with special educational needs and disabilities, after an inspection found "widespread and systemic failings" in the service.