SEND complaints and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman

This project will provide an evidenced-based understanding of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s (LGSCO) influence over local authorities and how this could be enhanced to address administrative problems in Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) provision.

Why this project is important

SEND is widely seen as a system in crisis, with many families experiencing problems resulting in delays and missed educational provision. The LGSCO investigates SEND complaints. Its role also includes identifying underlying systemic problems and issuing service improvement recommendations to get councils to improve their services. This research aims to develop the evidence around the nature of the faults identified, their underlying causes, and how councils can use this learning to improve their SEND provision.

What will it involve?

Documentary analysis will be conducted on 80 publicly available Ombudsman investigation reports. Qualitative interviews and focus groups will be held with representatives from local councils, the Ombudsman, and other SEND sector stakeholders. The research will be completed with the LGSCO as a research partner.

The intended impacts of the research are:

• enhancing knowledge and awareness of the issues for the Ombudsman, government, and stakeholders;
• informing ombudsman practice about issuing recommendations and councils implement them thereby enhancing its impact;
• informing policy debate through engagement with policy-makers, specifically proposals for systemic improvement of the SEND system including the Ombudsman’s role; and
• enhancing knowledge and awareness of wider issues relevant to other UK ombudsman.

How it will make a difference

A variety of outputs will be used to disseminate the findings. A policy brief will be made freely available alongside the main report. Roundtable workshops with SEND stakeholders will facilitate discussions of the findings. Policymakers, particularly those at the Department for Education, will be engaged with throughout the project.