Essex County Council has agreed to investigate why changes to its alternative education provision for children who are unable to attend school have not improved the service.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman asked the council to conduct the review after a young girl with significant educational needs was not provided with appropriate alternative education for some months when she was unable to attend school for medical reasons.
The girl’s mother told Ombudsman Ms Amerdeep Somal that this had impacted on her anxiety and mental health and has led to her not wanting to leave the house.
Ms Somal said: ‘When councils commit to improving their services, they should do so quickly and effectively. I am disappointed to have to report on this case as the recommendations we have made in previous complaints, had they been implemented successfully, should have gone a long way to ensuring this did not happen. What has happened here is simply not good enough and the young girl has been failed by the council that was responsible for her.’
