Local Government Ombudsman
Email this pageThe Local Government Ombudsman
If you have followed the local authority complaints procedure and are still dissatisfied, you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman about:-
- School admissions
- School transport
- School exclusions
- Special educational needs
- Home education
You can only complain about something that the Local Authority has done wrong, or failed to do, that directly affected you/your child. This is known as ‘maladministration’. They will not get involved where you simply disagree with the action that has been taken by the Local Authority or school.
Examples of ‘maladministration’ include:
- taken too long to take action, without good reason;
- not followed its own rules or the law;
- taken incorrect action or failed to take action at all;
- failed to follow it’s own polices;
- failed to provide information or given the wrong information;
- not made a decision in the correct way;
- failed to take relevant considerations into account in making a decision;
- failed to investigate;
- failed to deal with a letter or other enquiries;
- failed to comply with legal requirements;
- made misleading or inaccurate statements.
Possible outcomes (if your complaint is upheld) might be asking the local authority to…
- apologise to you
- provide a service you should have had
- make a decision it should have done before
- reconsider a decision it did not take properly in the first place
- improve its procedures so similar problems do not happen again
- make a payment
Also in this section:
Raising Concerns
Advice and support on what you can do if you're unhappy with the help your child or young person receives.
Making a Formal Complaint
Guidance on how to make a formal complaint to an education setting or local authority
Judicial Review
As this is a formal legal route, it is strongly advisable to seek legal representation if you are considering this option.
Resolving Disagreements
Many disagreements can be sorted out by talking with the school, college, local authority, or, for health services, the Clinical Commissioning Group.
Appeals
A brief overview of appeals to the SEND Tribunal.
Disability Discrimination Tribunal Claims
Nurseries, Schools and Colleges must take steps to ensure disabled children and young people are not substantially disadvantaged due to their disability.
Where to get further advice
You can find out more about making a complaint about provision at your child’s school on its website or by asking about its complaints procedure.