What is the correct channel if I have a complaint about my child's education?

I want to make a complaint because my local authority have failed to change my child's statement as ordered by the Tribunal, but I don't know where to start.

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Answers:

There is some new guidance on this from DCSF

Submitted by Jenny Phillips on Thu, 04/02/2010 - 15:53.

Information on the correct channels for making a complaint can be found on Teachernet.

In December 2009, Brian Lamb recommended in his final report that the DCSF and the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) work together to route SEN complaints against schools and Local Authorities to the LGO.

These changes are now in place (as of 19 January 2010), and you can read about them in brief here:

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/sen/parentcarers/parentalcomplaints/

More detailed information can be found at:

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=14656

At the end of this document, is a useful table detailing the correct channels for parents to complain about educational provision. From looking at this, it seems that you should register your complaint directly with the LGO, who will then investigate the issue with your LA.

Here are the contact details for the LGO: LGO Advice Team: 0300 061 0614 www.lgo.org.uk Hope this is useful.

Jenny (TreeHouse)