Northamptonshire family gets £3,350 for 10-year-old missing school

The child is enrolled to a secondary school for September but had missed a year of education

A council will pay £3,350 in compensation to a family after a 10-year-old child with special educational needs missed a year's education.

The Local Government Ombudsman said North Northamptonshire Council failed to promptly offer alternative schooling.

She had "academic decline" which affected her "personal development", its report said.

The council said accepted the findings and had apologised to the family.

According to the ombudsman's report the pupil, referred to as "Y" in the report, is autistic and experiences separation anxiety.

In September 2022, her school asked the council to carry out an education health and care (EHC) assessment as she had not been able to attend any formal lessons since June, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council issued an EHC plan the following March, but the ombudsman found there had been a six-week delay.

'Challenging and distressing'

It also found that she did not receive any education or support from the beginning of January to the end of May 2023, which was an "injustice".

The report said the council had a "lack of understanding of its responsibilities for arranging alternative provision for children who are out of school because of illness, exclusion or for other reasons".

"Miss X [the mother] was increasingly frustrated by the lack of accountability of the council's SEND services. She felt distressed by not being able to challenge the council's actions," it added.

The council was ordered to pay the money in recognition of the lack of educational provision and its failure to communicate effectively.

Jason Smithers, leader of the council, which is the local education authority, apologised and said it "must have been a very challenging and distressing time".

"We will continue to support the family, to ensure that an appropriate education is available which best meets the child's needs," he said.

He added the council would have "further staff training and revisit our policies and procedures".