A COUNCIL had to pay a father more than £1,000 after his son missed out on almost two years of school.

The dad, named in a report only as Mr X, was paid £1,600 by East Sussex County Council after it failed to provide suitable education for his son.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which acts as a watchdog for councils, said the authority had caused the family “uncertainty and distress”.

The boy, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, started in reception at an East Sussex school in September 2016.

But his father soon wanted him to be transferred to a special needs school as he was worried he would get hurt.

The boy’s behaviour had become worse by 2017, so the school excluded him, meaning the council now had responsibility to provide him with an education.

The council felt the school had excluded the boy unlawfully and tried to have him enrolled again.

But the after the school agreed to put him back on the roll, the boy was still missing his education.

Mr X told the council he wanted his son to go to a special needs school, School B, but it did not have any available places.

The council could not find a school place for him until April 2018, meaning he had missed out on almost two years of education.

Though he received home tutoring during these years, he was only taught for five hours at most, far below the required 22 hours.

He also received speech and language therapy.

The ombudsman found the council had not consulted any other schools for months after the boy’s preferred school said it did not have any places for him.

A spokesman for the ombudsman said: “The council’s delay and its failure to involve [the boy’s] parents in decisions caused Mr X and his family distress.

“Mr X also put to time and trouble in complaining to the Council.

“[The boy] may have gained a school place sooner than he did but for the council’s fault.

“This meant he suffered a loss of opportunity and his parents suffered more uncertainty about his education.”

East Sussex County Council apologised to the family and ensured staff were aware of their duties concerning children’s education.

It paid Mr X £1,200 for missed educational provision.

The council also added payments of £250 for the “uncertainty and distress” caused to the family, as well as £150 for the time and trouble Mr X put into the complaint.

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