The youth remained without education for more than a year

A young man with Down syndrome and autism was left without appropriate education for more than a year, an investigation found.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO) said the man moved with his mother to Oxfordshire, about 200 miles from his previous home, in September 2023.

But by November 2024, he had not been offered a suitable place and his mother said she had spent almost £10,000 on alternative support in that time.

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson said it is “committed to providing the best education and support for every young person”.

The LGO investigation found that the man’s mother had complained to the authority in November 2023 following the failure to provide him education.

At the time, the Council acknowledged that its consultations with potential new appointees were taking longer than expected.

The mother complained again in January 2024, saying the case had left her son “bored and marginalised”. The council apologized.

By August 2024 – after the person has been out of education for the entire academic year – the council said it had found a place for him, but did not know when it would be approved by the panel.

In November 2024, when the mother’s LGO complaint was resolved, the mother said it was still unclear when the placement would be resolved.

The LGO said the council accepted that its communication with the mother was “not up to standard”.

The council was asked to pay £3,500 to the man in recognition of the injustice suffered and £500 to his mother in recognition of her distress.

It was also said that the person would have to pay £500 for each half term of education missed.

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing the best education and support for every young person in Oxfordshire and have agreed action with the Local Government Ombudsman for this particular case.

“The national average for completing EHCPs (education, health and care plans) within 20 weeks was 50.3% in 2023 (the latest available figure). Oxfordshire County Council’s figure for May 2024 was 57.9%. This will rise by 4% in January 2023 is more than.”

The man and his mother received the report in November but it was published on Thursday.