(UK) Walsall: Boy "could not be accommodated in any school setting"
- The end of childhood
- 5 hours ago
- 1 min read
Feb 6, 2026, Express and Star: Walsall Council ordered to pay mum £2.4k [$3.3K] over child’s missed education
The mum, referred to as ‘Ms Y’ complained to the Social Care Ombudsman that the council failed provide education as outlined in the student’s Education, Health and Care Plan.
In 2023, it was decided that the needs of the student, referred to as ‘Child Z’, could not be accommodated in any school setting and Z was issued an EOTAS package (Education Other Than At School).
The package included academic tuition, speech and occupational therapy, PE, mentoring and provision of a computer and stationary.
Walsall Council agreed to issue free school meal vouchers and fund a laptop of up to £500 [$680] for the family to loan.
But the Ombudsman found that the council failed to provide speech and occupational therapy, the laptop, a few weeks of academic tuition in January 2024 and PE lessons.
It also found that free school meal funding was delayed and the mum was put to unnecessary ‘time and trouble’ raising complaints to have her child’s provision secured.
The Ombudsman said it was ‘pleased to note’ that the council had already taken steps to remedy the injustice.
It ordered the council to pay the family £2,400 [$3,300] to acknowledge the missed special education provision from January to November 2025, supply the laptop, organise PE sessions, and check that speech and occupational therapy has started. . . .
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