Council's Education Failure Leaves Autistic Child Without Schooling
A damning investigation has revealed that Croydon Council left an autistic child without any education or specialist support for nine months after failing to provide legally required schooling. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that the council neglected its duties to deliver the support outlined in the child's Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
The child, referred to as Y in the report, missed two and a half terms of education between September 2024 and May 2025, causing significant distress to both the child and their mother, Mrs X. The family's ordeal began when they moved into Croydon in July 2024, at which point the council became legally responsible for implementing Y's EHCP.
Systemic Failures in Support Delivery
Despite the council's legal duty established in summer 2024, investigators found that by the start of the new school year in September, no school place had been secured and none of the specialist support outlined in the EHCP had been provided. The child, who has an autism diagnosis and faces emotional, social, and learning challenges, was entitled to comprehensive support that was never delivered.
Y's legally binding plan guaranteed one-to-one support in every lesson, a highly structured daily routine, visual supports, small group sessions and specialist emotional help. However, the Ombudsman's investigation confirmed that none of these essential measures were ever put in place.
In October 2024, the council suggested home tuition as an alternative to arranging a school placement, despite Mrs X having clearly explained that the home environment was unsuitable for her child's educational needs. Although the council asked its tuition provider to explore alternative venues and transport options, no workable arrangements were ever finalised.
Compensation Ordered and Wider Concerns
The Ombudsman emphasised that the personalised nature of an EHCP cannot be delegated to schools or external providers, and the council remains ultimately responsible for ensuring all elements are delivered. This meant Croydon Council was responsible for every failure throughout the nine months Y went without education.
As a result of the investigation, the Ombudsman ordered Croydon Council to apologise and pay £3,900 in compensation to the family - comprising £3,750 to recognise the impact on Y's education and development, and £150 to Mrs X for the distress caused.
The council must also improve its systems for supporting children with EHCPs who are out of school. This case follows other recent concerns raised by Croydon parents about failures to deliver legally required EHCP support.
Several families told the Local Democracy Reporting Service last month that speech and language therapy for their children had been stopped without warning. Amy Jones, another local parent, reported that her eight-year-old son lost essential therapy despite it being written into his EHCP as a legal entitlement.
The council attributed the abrupt ending of therapy services to switching to a new provider, with delays between the previous service ending and the new one starting.
A spokesperson for Croydon Council stated: "We have accepted the Ombudsman's findings in full and taken on board the recommendations. We have sincerely apologised to Mrs X and have paid the recommended compensation."
The council confirmed it has reminded staff that the authority remains responsible for EHCP delivery even when other organisations are involved, and has reviewed how it manages special educational support for children receiving education outside of school settings.
