Bracknell Forest Council must ‘take action to improve timeliness’ of responding to watchdog enquiries over special educational needs (SEN).

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) says that between 2023-24, Bracknell Forest Council was late to respond to seven out of eight enquiries relating to SEN children.

A total of 92 per cent of complaints made against Bracknell Forest Council were upheld in the 2023-24 financial year.

The LGO is a government regulator that investigates complaints against councils and adult social care providers.

A total of 13 complaints were investigated by the LGO, of which eight related to special educational needs (SEN).

This is above the national average, according to the head of complaints at Bracknell Forest Council, Jen Lawson.

It comes as the News has investigated the number of SEN watchdog complaints against the council, which paid out £20,000 in remedies to families since 2022.

In a letter to the authority, the LGO said that the council responded late to seven out of eight enquiries about SEN.

Concerns had been raised the year before over the same issue and the watchdog said it was ‘disappointing to report we have experienced similar issues this year’.

In two cases, the LGO had to remind the council of power to issue a witness summons before requested information was received.

The authority implemented recommendations made by the LGO’s rulings in every case, which is the same for the national average. There had also been one case where the council had already provided a satisfactory remedy.

The LGO said that it is ‘aware of the difficult financial circumstances’ all local authorities face.

It launched a complaint handling code for councils in February, as well as training sessions. Bracknell Forest Council has not received this training yet, according to LGO records.

In the letter to the council, the LGO said: “We will continue to hold organisations to account through our investigations and recommend proportionate actions to remedy injustice.

“Despite the challenges, I have great confidence that you recognised the valuable contribution and insight complaints, and their swift resolution, offer to improve services for the public.”

The LGO’s findings were on the agenda of Bracknell Forest Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Commission which met yesterday (October 17).

Head of complaints Jen Lawson said that the council had introduced a new complaints system at the end of September.

Members were asked to make recommendations to council leader, but no such recommendations were made.