BCP Council to pay £8k after boy's education injustice

A council will pay £8,000 in compensation to a family after a boy with special needs missed more than a year's education.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council failed to provide the boy with suitable provision throughout 2022 and for January and February 2023.

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) said the authority had caused the boy injustice.

It said the LGO investigation has "informed improvements" to its service.

The boy's mother said him not attending school meant he became "very isolated" and fell behind academically.

She also had to look after him, which she said led to her becoming isolated and distressed.

The LGO told the council to pay £6,000 for missed education throughout 2022 and another £1,000 for lost education between January and February 2023.

It will also pay £500 for a delay in amending the boy's care plan and another £500 to recognise his mother's "avoidable distress and frustration".

A Department for Education (DfE) review published in February found special educational needs and disability (SEND) services in BCP services needed to improve more quickly.

A council spokesperson said the authority is "on a SEND improvement journey" and working with parents and carers, children and young people.

"We are currently in the process of making significant improvements to our alternative provision processes to improve the lived experiences of children and young people who are supported in the BCP area," they added.

"We are committed to ensuring we deliver the best possible service to all children and young people with SEND and will do everything required of us to achieve that."

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