A North London council has agreed to pay a family over £38,000 after a teenager was left without necessary educational support for more than two years. The boy, referred to as ‘Y’, faced significant challenges due to his autism, dyslexia, and social skills deficits. This situation arose following a court battle concerning his “complex” educational care needs, which Camden Council failed to address adequately.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) determined that the council caused distress to both ‘Y’ and his mother, known as ‘Miss X’. The council’s inadequate response to their needs resulted in ‘Y’ missing out on crucial home-based support he was legally entitled to receive. The conflict began in 2022, when Camden Council challenged a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) tribunal decision that mandated an “Education Otherwise Than At School” (EOTAS) package for the boy.
The local authority contested the tribunal’s orders, arguing that ‘Y’ should be educated in a traditional school setting instead. This appeal process left the case in limbo, suspending the council’s legal obligation to provide the necessary support. Ultimately, the appeal was dismissed in September 2023.
Following the ruling, the LGSCO noted that Camden Council made efforts to meet ‘Y’s needs. This included hiring a dedicated officer in 2024 to manage “complex” education health and care plan (EHCP) cases. Despite these efforts, the Ombudsman found the council at fault for failing to fully deliver on its statutory duties. It was not until May 2025 that ‘Y’ finally received all the interventions outlined in his original educational plan.
The report from the Ombudsman highlighted that the council’s approach was “confused” and marked by “significant delays” in addressing Miss X’s complaints, which she first lodged in October 2023. It took two years before the council acknowledged its faults and revised its position. The Ombudsman criticized Camden for forcing Miss X to endure an unnecessarily extended wait for resolution, causing her frustration and confusion as the council frequently changed its stance.
As a result of the investigation, Camden Council has been ordered to pay the family £13,860 to compensate for the lost special educational provisions and for the “time and trouble” caused by delays in handling the complaint. Additionally, the council reimbursed Miss X £24,180 for private tutoring costs incurred between October 2022 and October 2023.
In response to the LGSCO findings, a spokesperson for Camden Council stated, “We would like to again extend our apologies to the family for the distress caused. We recognize the impact that the failure to deliver the child’s full educational provision had on both the child and their parent in this case, and we are committed to putting it right.” The spokesperson confirmed that the council is acting on the Ombudsman’s recommendations, including meeting with the family to review the ongoing educational needs of ‘Y’.
Camden Council is also tasked with reviewing its complaint-handling processes within three months of the ruling issued on November 25, 2025. The council has expressed its commitment to strengthening these processes to prevent similar issues in the future, ensuring that all children and young people with special educational needs receive the support they require.
