Hertfordshire County Council to pay parent £100 for education, health and care plan delay after Ombudsman investigation

Education officials at Hertfordshire County Council have agreed to pay £100 to the parent of a child with special educational needs, because of their delay in the issuing of an amended education, health and care plan (EHCP).

And – following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman – they have agreed to look at how they can improve their processes to prevent further delays.

The actions follow a complaint that was made to the Ombudsman by a parent – referred to as Mrs J.

Mrs J had complained that her son – who has autism and ADHD – was not receiving the provision at the mainstream school that had been specified in his EHCP.

And she said that an amended EHCP – following an annual review – was delayed and did not meet statutory time scales.

EHCPs are formal legal documents that identify the educational, health and social needs of a specific child or young person, up to the age of 25.