Getty PicturesA tender guy with Down’s syndrome and autism was once left with out appropriate schooling for greater than a yr, an investigation discovered.
The Native Govt and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) stated the person moved together with his mom to Oxfordshire from their earlier house, about 200 miles away, in September 2023.
However by means of November 2024, he had no longer been given an acceptable position and his mom stated she had spent about £10,000 on selection toughen in that point.
An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson stated it was once “dedicated to offering the most efficient schooling and toughen for each younger individual”.
The LGO investigation discovered the person’s mom complained to the authority in November 2023 after the failure to seek out him schooling.
On the time, the council stated that its consultations with attainable new placements had been taking longer than anticipated.
The mum complained once more in January 2024 and stated the case had left her son “bored and marginalised”. The council apologised.
By means of August 2024 – after the person have been out of schooling for a complete instructional yr – the council stated it had discovered a spot for him however didn’t know when that might be authorized by means of a panel.
In November 2024, when the mummy’s LGO grievance was once settled, the mummy stated it was once nonetheless unclear when the location could be resolved.
The LGO stated the council had authorized its verbal exchange with the mummy was once “lower than usual”.
The council was once advised to pay the person £3,500 to recognise the injustice brought about and £500 to his mom to recognise her misery.
It additionally was once advised to pay £500 for each different part time period the person misses of schooling.
An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson stated: “We’re dedicated to offering the most efficient schooling and toughen for each younger individual in Oxfordshire and feature agreed a plan of action with the native executive ombudsman for this actual case.
“The nationwide moderate for finishing EHCPs (Training, Well being and Care Plans) inside 20 weeks was once 50.3% in 2023 (newest to be had determine). Oxfordshire County Council’s determine for Might 2024 was once 57.9%. That is up from 4% in January 2023.”
The person and his mom won the file in November nevertheless it was once printed on Thursday.
