A council is set to pay £2,000 after failing to provide adequate education, healthcare and social care needs to a child.

Bracknell Forest Council agreed to settle the payment after accepting fault during the complaints process, the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has said. 

Payment is to be made to a mother (known as Mrs X) after the council acknowledged the disadvantage caused by significantly delaying her son's (Known as Y) Educational and Health Care Plan (EHCP), as well as offering inadequate support and advice. 

READ MORE: Ukraine Appeal: Bracknell man raises funds to support needs of 25 refugees

Mrs X complained that the council’s failure to comply with the EHCP timescales undermined Y’s chances of succeeding with his GCSEs and “might have a lasting impact on his educational future.” 

Having raised the initial request for an Educational and Health Care assessment in March 2020, Mrs X only received the draft EHCP in June 2021 and lodged a complaint to the council a few days later. 

The council issued the final EHCP five days later, however Mrs X was not satisfied with its response so escalated the case further in the complaints process. 

The LGO concluded in its final decision statement: “The Council [has] offered some suitable actions to remedy injustice caused to Mrs X and her son and accepted my additional recommendations.” 

READ MORE: Ceremony marks new Bracknell development

The Council also made an additional payment of £300 to acknowledge the distress and uncertainty caused to the child. 

The assistant director of education and learning, Cheryl Eyre, said: “We take all complaints very seriously and in this specific case we have acknowledged and apologised for the delays in issuing a final EHCP.  

“We are very sorry that this happened and have apologised to the family for the delay and any distress caused. As with any complaint, we aim to respond appropriately and learn from any weaknesses in our services, provision or processes.  

“We will take learning on board from this case as we make improvements to our SEND services.”