Overview
The complainant (Mr C) has a son (Child C) with special educational needs, who attends a secondary school (the School) in the area of West Lothian Council (the Council). Mr C raised concerns over the way the Council's Education Department handled his grievance with the School about adjusting Child C's second year timetable, and the Chief Executive's handling of his formal complaint.
Specific complaints and conclusions
The complaints which have been investigated are that the Council's:
- (a) Education Department did not make an appropriate intervention to resolve a problem which had arisen with the School over Child C's timetable choices (not upheld);
- (b) Education Department failed to direct Mr C to his entitlement to mediation services (partially upheld); and
- (c) Chief Executive did not carry out an appropriate investigation before responding to Mr C's complaint (upheld).
Redress and recommendations
The Ombudsman recommends that the Council:
- (i) apologise to Mr C for the Education Department not referring to the procedures for accessing the Mediation Service in June 2006; for not expediting the mediation requested by Mr C on 23 August 2006; and for the inadequacies in their investigation of, and response to Mr C's concerns; and
- (ii) review Council staff's awareness of the Mediation Service and the availability of the related leaflet.