West Northamptonshire Council is set to review its treatment of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), after an ombudsman investigation revealed a number of children were left without adequate education.
The findings emerged during an investigation by Local Government and Social Care ombudsman (LGO) Michael King, who was initially contacted by the family of a primary school-aged autistic child who had not been provided with adequate education for two years.
King’s investigation found the council did not follow set procedure or timelines for reviewing the child’s education, health and care plan (EHCP), having taken 13 months to finalise the child’s amended plan after its annual review in 2022.
The child’s school informed the council five times between June 2021 and May 2022 that it could not meet their needs, according to the ombudsman's report, resulting in the child being isolated, not learning, and self-harming.
