Authority to pay £11,750 over special needs case

A council will pay the father of a boy with special needs a total of £11,750 in compensation after multiple problems were found in the way his education was delivered.

Slough Borough Council will pay it after the boy missed out on proper provision between May 2022 and January 2024 and for causing "avoidable frustration, distress and uncertainty".

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) found the pair suffered "injustice".

An authority spokesperson said it accepted that the case "did not meet the high standards we strive for" and apologised for the impact it had on the family.

The LGO investigation found that the council should pay £10,750 for the provision the boy missed out on, based on £2,000 for every school term.

It will also pay £500 "to recognise the avoidable frustration, distress and uncertainty caused" by the way it communicated and kept records.

The father will receive another £500 to recognise the time he spent on the case as the council dealt with his concerns.

That was decided in January but published publicly last week.

The LGO had already recommended the authority improves following other recent investigations.

The council's spokesperson said it had taken "meaningful steps" to improve provision for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) over recent years.

"We deeply value the trust that families place in us to support their children's education," they added.

"We remain committed to working in partnership with parents, carers, schools, and professionals to ensure that every child with SEND receives the support they need, when they need it.

"This case has reinforced our commitment to continuous improvement. We will continue to listen, learn, and refine our services to better serve families in our community."

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