A South London council has been found at fault for leaving a boy with special educational needs without crucial therapy for eight months, causing him significant distress and an inability to cope with his conditions.
Council's Failure and Its Impact
The boy, referred to as Y in an official report, has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan outlining the support he requires. When he transitioned to an education otherwise than at school (EOTAS) package in September 2023, Kingston Council specified he needed 12 hours each of speech and language therapy and occupational therapy annually.
However, a investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman revealed the council failed to provide this essential support for two full school terms. The watchdog concluded this failure constituted fault, leaving Y without the required provision from September 2024 until May 2025.
Y's mother, Ms X, said her son struggled to cope with his anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder during this period without the therapeutic support. The Ombudsman's report stated the council's failure caused both Y and his mother distress, frustration, and uncertainty.
The Path to a Formal Complaint
The issues began when Ms X raised concerns during a review of Y's EHC plan in September 2024 about the number of therapy hours being used for indirect tasks. The situation escalated in November 2024 when the existing therapy provider withdrew its provision, stating it did not have his mother's consent for its delivery model.
While the council attempted to find an alternative provider, it was unsuccessful for months. The Ombudsman found that despite the council's efforts, it did not manage to secure the necessary therapy until May 2025, a delay of eight months.
In response to the findings, the council agreed to apologise to Ms X and pay her £600 as compensation for the two terms of missed therapy provision for her son.
Broader Context of SEND Failings
This individual case emerges against a backdrop of wider concerns about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in the area. On November 3, 2025, parents from Kingston and Richmond took part in a protest named 'Every Pair Tells a Story', where pairs of shoes were lined up outside council headquarters to represent children failed by the system.
Families gathered to describe endless battles to secure appropriate support, with children struggling in unsuitable mainstream schools and facing long waits for EHC plans.
A spokesperson for Kingston Council said: "We accept the ombudsman's findings in this individual case. While the vast majority of children and young people in Kingston receive the support set out in their plans, we recognise that on this occasion our local services fell short of the standard they are entitled to expect."
The council confirmed it has begun taking steps to improve the commissioning, monitoring, and delivery of therapy provision and remains committed to the continuous improvement of its SEND services.
