West Sussex Council Pays £2,800 Over Delayed Education Plan

West Sussex County Council has been ordered to pay £2,800 to a father after taking 14 months to issue an Education, Health and Care Plan for his daughter.

A Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigation found the plan, which sets out the special educational support a child needs, should have been finalised by August 2023.

It was not issued until October 2024.

The council said a shortage of educational psychologists, who are needed to carry out assessments, contributed to the delays.

The Ombudsman ordered the council to pay the father £1,400 for the impact of the delay on him and his daughter.

A further £1,200 was awarded after the council failed to properly consider and arrange alternative education between October 2024 and March 2025, when the girl was unable to attend school.

The report said this meant she missed out on support included in her Education, Health and Care Plan.

The council also accepted it had "communicated poorly" with the father and agreed to pay a further £200 for the "unnecessary distress and uncertainty" caused.

West Sussex County Council said it accepted the Ombudsman's findings and had agreed to the financial remedy.

It said work was continuing to improve the timeliness and communication of its SEND services.