Council sorry for failing to support armed forces SEN pupil

A local authority which failed to adequately support a child from a military family with special educational needs has been criticised by a watchdog.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found Shropshire Council left the boy without specialist education support for five months.

The council has apologised to his mother and paid £3,000 to reflect the missed provision.

It said: "We are determined that this case will not be repeated and have already taken action."

The ombudsman said the family moved to Shropshire in February 2025 as part of a military posting.

The child had an Education, Health and Care Plan, which set out the care and support that was expected, and Shropshire Council was informed of the move two months in advance.

Despite this, the authority failed to arrange a school placement or put interim education in place when the family arrived, the ombudsman said.

It said after limited online schooling arranged by the previous council ended in April 2025, the child had no education at all for several months at the start of his GCSE preparation course.

The council's response to the boy's mother was "woefully inadequate", it said.

Under the terms of the Armed Forces Covenant, which Shropshire Council is signed up to, councils have to ensure military families face no disadvantage in the provision of public services.

Amerdeep Clarke, the chair of the ombudsman's commission, referenced the fact it was Armed Forces Week and said it should be "a moment for the nation to recognise the sacrifices made by those who serve".

She added: "When a family moves as part of a military posting, the very least they should be able to expect is that the council has their child's support in place from day one."

Shropshire Council said it acknowledged the ombudsman's findings and its recommendations.

It said it "could and should have done more" to support the family and was reviewing its Armed Forces Covenant Action Plan.

It also said: "As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we are committed to ensuring that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly – and to supporting children and young people from service families."

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