A CHILD missed a year-and-a-half of school because the council failed to update his education, health and care plan (EHCP).

Worcestershire County Council agreed to pay the child and his mum £11,300 to recognise the four-and-a-half terms of missed education and to “remedy the frustration and distress” it had caused.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) upheld a complaint against the council in December 2023 and senior officers faced up to councillors as part of a scrutiny committee hearing on Monday (November 17).

The child, referred to only as ‘Y’ in the LGO’s report, had an EHCP when he was at primary school but struggled to adapt after moving to secondary school in September 2021.

He stopped attending the school in February 2022 because of his special education needs, the report says.

The council had decided the child needed a specialist school placement but had failed to find a place for him.

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In May 2023, Y’s mother, referred to as Miss X, complained that her son had been out of school for a year-and-a-half and had been receiving only an hour of learning with a teaching assistant at home each week.

She said he should be compensated for the education he had missed and the impact on his mental health.

“She said that one hour of tuition per week was not enough education,” the report said.

The council originally said it did not offer financial compensation as a result of complaints but has since changed its procedures to fall in line with LGO guidance.

Adam Johnston, director of children’s services at the council, said in Monday’s meeting: “It’s not just about the financial penalty.

“Here I am in a public meeting, holding my hands up on behalf of the council, which is the right thing to do.”

Cllr Matt Jenkins pointed out that the amount of compensation paid is less than the cost of education the child would have got.

Mr Johnston said the amount paid is based on guidance from the LGO.