Education support staff crisis
Low pay and poor conditions leading to difficulties in recruiting and retaining vital education support staff.
1,705 items
7 sources
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Education support staff crisis has been flagged across 7 independent accountability sources:
1 PFD report
90 committee recs
4 NAO recs
3 IMB reports
15 IMB recs
1 PHSO decision
1591 LGO/SPSO decisions
When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Committee Recommendations (90) — showing 50 strongest matches
#27 — Colleges still face significant teacher recruitment and retention challenges for T Levels.
Recommendation: The Department told us it recognises the additional burden of T Levels on colleges. It had sought to address this, and help colleges transition to T Levels from other level 3 programmes, by providing a 10% funding uplift in 2023/24 …
Not Addressed
#26 — Colleges face significant staffing and financial challenges delivering T Levels.
Recommendation: Colleges play a critical role in providing T Levels – as well as sourcing industrial placements, they must have enough teaching staff with the right expertise, industry-standard facilities and specialist equipment to teach T Level students.79 Alongside introducing T Levels, …
Not Addressed
#6 — Develop understanding of college T Level funding pressures and a teacher recruitment strategy.
Recommendation: Various factors, such as teacher recruitment and awarding organisation fees, will influence colleges’ uptake of T Levels particularly given their wider financial challenges. The Department recognises the additional burden faced by colleges to recruit T Level teachers, especially given that …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. to college teacher recruitment and retention in high-priority areas, alongside schools, including how the department will measure, track and record progress against the pledge. Additionally, the post-16 education …
Accepted
#27 — Further education colleges struggle with high specialist teaching vacancies due to uncompetitive salaries.
Recommendation: Further education colleges have higher vacancy rates than schools, with challenges across certain subjects, particularly those that are more specialist.82 We asked the Department why further education colleges find it difficult to keep specialist teachers. The Department said it sees …
Gov response: 3. PAC conclusion: Teacher vacancies and the challenges of retaining experienced teachers are greater for schools in deprived areas, and across some core subjects, leading to inequities in provision and career opportunities. 3. PAC recommendation: …
Not Addressed
#26 — Disadvantaged schools suffer higher teacher turnover, fewer experienced staff, and limited pupil opportunities.
Recommendation: Those schools with higher proportions of disadvantaged pupils tend to have higher turnover rates and less experienced teachers.77 This impacts the government’s mission of breaking down the barriers to opportunity and means disadvantaged children are at risk of being locked …
Gov response: 3. PAC conclusion: Teacher vacancies and the challenges of retaining experienced teachers are greater for schools in deprived areas, and across some core subjects, leading to inequities in provision and career opportunities. 3. PAC recommendation: …
Not Addressed
#25 — Secondary school teaching vacancies significantly increased, impacting pupil achievement and specialist subjects.
Recommendation: In 2023–24, 46% of secondary schools in England reported at least one vacant teaching position, more than double the figure of 17% in 2010–11.72 When we asked the Department how this has affected student outcomes, it told us the quality …
Gov response: 3. PAC conclusion: Teacher vacancies and the challenges of retaining experienced teachers are greater for schools in deprived areas, and across some core subjects, leading to inequities in provision and career opportunities. 3. PAC recommendation: …
Not Addressed
#22 — Teacher pay has significantly declined in real terms, impacting recruitment and retention competitiveness.
Recommendation: The Department regards pay as its strongest lever in recruiting and retaining teachers. For example, following the most recent 5.5% pay award, the Department reduced its teacher trainee targets as it expected 2,500 more teachers to stay. However, teacher pay …
Gov response: 6.3 Evidence suggests that pay can be an effective lever at scale; for example, the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) estimates that a 1% improvement in competitiveness of school teacher pay increases recruitment by …
Not Addressed
#21 — Poor pupil behaviour increasingly contributes to teacher stress and departure from the profession.
Recommendation: We challenged the Department on the extent to which poor pupil behaviour could negatively impact teachers’ mental health and wellbeing, as set out in written evidence from Education Support.56 60% of schoolteachers felt they spent too much time following up …
Gov response: 5.8 The attendance and behaviour hubs programme support senior leaders in developing good school cultures with high expectations. Regional support begins in the 2025–26 academic year, with wider rollout from January 2026. Interim findings from …
Accepted
#20 — Experienced teachers lack financial incentives and structured support, limiting their retention in the profession.
Recommendation: The Department does not offer experienced teachers any financial incentives to stay, such as bursaries or retention payments, or structured support, such as the Early Career Framework for those with up to two years of experience. The Department’s ability to …
Gov response: 5.5 Working conditions are important to teachers’ experience of the profession and play a key role in recruiting and retaining teachers. There have been representations for the department to review the School Teachers Pay and …
Not Addressed
#19 — High teacher workload and stress are significant, unresolved drivers of educators leaving the profession.
Recommendation: The Department’s annual teacher survey showed that 84% of teachers who had left between its 2023 and 2024 surveys described high workload as a reason for leaving, with 75% citing stress and/or poor wellbeing. Full-time secondary school teachers in England …
Gov response: 5.2 The government gathers data through the longitudinal Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders study, which examines the intention to leave among the existing workforce and the experiences of those who have left the profession. …
Accepted
#18 — Education sector suffers lower long-term teacher retention compared to other public and private sectors.
Recommendation: We asked the Department what it was doing to understand why fewer people stay working in the education sector compared with other sectors – 38% of those who had worked within the education sector at some point between the ages …
Gov response: 5.2 The government gathers data through the longitudinal Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders study, which examines the intention to leave among the existing workforce and the experiences of those who have left the profession. …
Accepted
#15 — Further education teacher recruitment receives insufficient focus and funding compared to schools.
Recommendation: We asked the Department if it thought there has been less focus on recruitment in further education than there should have been given the need to increase skills across the UK economy. For example, written evidence we received from the …
Gov response: 3.2 The government recognises there are variations in school and FE recruitment and retention, including greater shortages in key STEM and technical subjects and in disadvantaged areas. 3.4 School and college leaders are responsible for …
Accepted
#14 — Further education colleges face significant challenges recruiting teachers and filling vacancies
Recommendation: In offering vocational training, further education colleges support the government’s missions for building skills for economic growth and spreading opportunities too all children. However, colleges struggle to compete with schools and industry to recruit the teachers required and have experienced …
Gov response: 3.2 The government recognises there are variations in school and FE recruitment and retention, including greater shortages in key STEM and technical subjects and in disadvantaged areas. 3.4 School and college leaders are responsible for …
Accepted
#5 — Understand why teachers leave and support schools in addressing workload and conditions.
Recommendation: Teachers’ working environment and conditions remain critically important to teacher retention, with workload cited as the top reason for teachers leaving, and pupil behaviour an escalating challenge. The Department does not offer payments or structured support for more experienced teachers, …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Leaders study, which examines the intention to leave among the existing workforce and the experiences of those who have left the profession. Through the Improving Education Together partnership, …
Accepted
#4 — Update Committee on recruitment and retention plans for the further education sector.
Recommendation: The Department has recently increased its focus on addressing the significant teacher gaps across further education colleges, but there remains much more to do. A shortage of further education college teachers, which impacts the type and extent of skills developed, …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. recruitment and retention of FE teachers. As a first step, the 6,500 delivery plan will provide detail on the department’s approach to college teacher recruitment and retention in …
Accepted
#3 — Understand reasons for teacher variations in deprived areas and core subjects.
Recommendation: Teacher vacancies and the challenges of retaining experienced teachers are greater for schools in deprived areas, and across some core subjects, leading to inequities in provision and career opportunities. Schools and colleges decide their own staffing model and have discretion …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. retention, including greater shortages in key STEM and technical subjects and in disadvantaged areas. The department has published some evidence of these variations in schools and works with …
Accepted
#2 — Develop a whole-system strategy to recruit and retain school and college teachers.
Recommendation: The Department has no clear or coherent approach bringing together its various initiatives on teacher recruitment and retention. In 2024–25, the Department had a £700 million package, excluding pay and pensions, for recruitment and retention initiatives which the Department has …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. for both sectors. The Schools White Paper will set out how it will better enable teachers and support staff to deliver the very best outcomes for the children …
Accepted
#63 — System risks losing experienced staff, leaving vulnerable pupils without essential support
Recommendation: These measures are essential. Without decisive action, the system will continue to lose experienced staff, leaving vulnerable pupils without the support they need and deserve. (Recommendation, Paragraph 226) 168
Gov response: Teaching Assistants (TAs) play an important role in supporting pupils with SEND. We recognise that training and career progression opportunities for TAs help schools have the skilled staff they need. This Government values and recognises …
Accepted
#62 — Issue guidance on TA-to-pupil ratios and develop comprehensive recruitment and retention strategy
Recommendation: The Department should issue guidance on teaching assistant-to-pupil ratios and urgently address the worsening crisis in recruiting and retaining TAs and learning support assistants to ensure these ratios can be met. These professionals are vital to the delivery of inclusive …
Gov response: Teaching Assistants (TAs) play an important role in supporting pupils with SEND. We recognise that training and career progression opportunities for TAs help schools have the skilled staff they need. This Government values and recognises …
Partially Accepted
#60 — Learning Support Assistants and Teaching Assistants lack adequate SEND-specific training
Recommendation: Learning support assistants and teaching assistants are integral to the effective delivery of SEND support and resourcing their deployment properly can help reduce the need for expensive specialist placements. To sustain and strengthen their contribution, improvements are urgently needed in …
Gov response: Teaching Assistants (TAs) play an important role in supporting pupils with SEND. We recognise that training and career progression opportunities for TAs help schools have the skilled staff they need. This Government values and recognises …
Not Addressed
#40 — Embed commitment for Best Start Family Hubs to include dedicated SENCOs, EPs, and SLTs.
Recommendation: The commitment for every Best Start Family Hub to have a dedicated SENCO should be embedded within the SEND workforce strategy and extend to educational psychologists and speech and language therapists. (Recommendation, Paragraph 176)
Gov response: funding Best Start Family hubs in every local authority, with children and family services professionals specifically trained in working to support parents of children with additional needs. The Department is working closely with DHSC and …
Accepted
#64 — Address underlying reasons for recruitment and retention crisis among school and college teachers
Recommendation: The Department for Education must address the underlying and unresolved reasons for the recruitment and retention crisis amongst school and college teachers, which include pay disparities, excessive workloads, limited professional development and job insecurity. In so doing, it must develop …
Gov response: PLANS ALREADY IN PLACE We are taking a range of action and developing incentives to support the recruitment and retention of teachers across the post-16 education sector as part of the Government’s commitment to 6,500 …
Accepted
#65 — Provide realistic assessment of construction workforce numbers and skills needed for housing and climate targets
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government, in response to this report, should: • Provide a realistic assessment of the construction workforce and what is needed to deliver the Government’s housing targets for each remaining year of this Parliament. This should include: …
Gov response: 116. Skills England regularly publishes assessments of priority skills needed across the economy to 2030, across 10 critical sectors including construction and housebuilding. The most recent assessment of labour demand, published in August 2025, sets …
No Published Response
#64 — Government has not adequately demonstrated future construction workforce skills for housing and environment targets
Recommendation: However, we are yet to be convinced that this alone will be enough. As the Government itself has acknowledged, the construction sector will be instrumental in meeting wider Government commitments. Recruiting new talent is essential but training takes time and, …
Gov response: 116. Skills England regularly publishes assessments of priority skills needed across the economy to 2030, across 10 critical sectors including construction and housebuilding. The most recent assessment of labour demand, published in August 2025, sets …
No Published Response
#63 — Construction industry lacks sufficient workforce and skills to meet housing and net zero targets
Recommendation: We have heard concerns that the construction industry does not have the numbers, nor the skills, needed to deliver the volume or types of homes that will enable the Government to meet its targets for housing, the environment, nature and …
Gov response: 116. Skills England regularly publishes assessments of priority skills needed across the economy to 2030, across 10 critical sectors including construction and housebuilding. The most recent assessment of labour demand, published in August 2025, sets …
No Published Response
#59 — Shortage of planning professionals undermines local authorities' effective planning system functioning.
Recommendation: The shortage of planning professionals in local authorities is undermining the planning system’s ability to function effectively. Planning officers are unable to thoroughly consider applications within statutory timeframes and are unable to adequately pre-consult. This capacity gap compromises the quality, …
Gov response: 100. The Government agrees that ecological expertise is critical within the planning system. We recognise the challenges local planning authorities face with capacity and skills across the board and are taking forward significant action to …
No Published Response
#55 — Invest in ecology training and establish local ecological resource hubs by July 2026.
Recommendation: We recommend that the Government should invest in and prioritise the training and upskilling of talent in ecology as a priority. As a temporary measure, to address current staff shortages, the Government should pilot and establish local ecological resource hubs, …
Gov response: 100. The Government agrees that ecological expertise is critical within the planning system. We recognise the challenges local planning authorities face with capacity and skills across the board and are taking forward significant action to …
No Published Response
#54 — Ensure local planning authorities are adequately resourced to hire and train ecological experts.
Recommendation: One of the strongest messages we have heard throughout this inquiry is that local planning authorities are severely under-resourced in terms of ecological expertise. Addressing this should be a priority, as without rapid and meaningful support, the Government will struggle …
Gov response: 100. The Government agrees that ecological expertise is critical within the planning system. We recognise the challenges local planning authorities face with capacity and skills across the board and are taking forward significant action to …
No Published Response
#5 — Accelerate initiatives promoting clean energy and retrofit careers for under-represented groups and new workforce entrants.
Recommendation: The Government should continue to develop and launch further initiatives to promote clean energy and retrofit careers among under-represented groups and those outside the existing workforce; the actions set out in the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper should be …
Gov response: The government agrees with this recommendation. The Office for Clean Energy Jobs is a cross-cutting team within DESNZ that coordinates work to support building a skilled clean energy workforce, including in retrofit, and ensure these …
Accepted
#1 — Skilled labour supply insufficient to meet demand for clean energy and decarbonised buildings.
Recommendation: The supply of skilled labour does not currently match the levels of demand expected to be required if the UK is to fulfil Government’s ambitions to deliver clean energy by 2030 and decarbonised buildings by 2050. (Conclusion, Paragraph 29)
Gov response: The government agrees with this recommendation. The government is committed to tackling the barriers preventing the transition of existing energy sector workers. The majority of the workforce needed to meet our clean energy ambitions are …
Accepted
#16 —
Recommendation: We have heard examples of local schools taking steps such as cutting staff, particularly teaching assistants, and reducing provision for pupils with SEND, in order to make savings.34 We also received written evidence from stakeholders in the sector about how …
Gov response: 3: PAC conclusion: We are concerned that financial pressures faced by schools could damage children’s education. 3: PAC recommendation: In carrying out its research, the ESFA should collect sufficient reliable evidence on the impact of …
Not Addressed
#24 —
Recommendation: Our 2021 report also noted, however, that the financial health of the college sector had previously been, and remained, fragile and that financial pressures were affecting provision for students. These pressures had caused some colleges to narrow their curriculum and …
Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented 5.2 The government has made available an extra £1.6 billion for 16-19-year-olds education in 2024-25 financial year, compared with 2021-22. The department is using part …
Not Addressed
#15 —
Recommendation: STEM teacher salaries must be as competitive as possible with the private sector, and we welcome the new STEM-focused bursaries and wider efforts by the Government to recruit and retain STEM teachers. However, we do not think the amounts currently …
Gov response: 90. Recruitment has been challenging, across the economy, as we recover from the pandemic. As expected, the unprecedented increase in new entrants to ITT that we saw in 2020/21, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has …
Not Addressed
#61 — Integrate SEND content into teaching assistant training with regular CPD opportunities
Recommendation: SEND content should be an integral part of teaching assistant training, and they should be provided with regular opportunities for CPD and peer support. This could be through incentivised or ring-fenced funding for schools and multi-academy trusts to release teaching …
Gov response: Teaching Assistants (TAs) play an important role in supporting pupils with SEND. We recognise that training and career progression opportunities for TAs help schools have the skilled staff they need. This Government values and recognises …
Not Addressed
#12 — Publish statutory requirements for minimum resources and expertise for SEN support
Recommendation: The Department should publish statutory requirements mandating the minimum resources, specialist expertise, and equipment that every educational setting must have access to as a part of their offer of SEN support and in order to deliver an inclusive education. This …
Gov response: We are committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools to ensure they have the tools to better identify and support children before issues escalate. Our new team of expert Regional Improvement for Standards …
Not Addressed
#61 — Growing pay disparity between school and college teachers undermines retention and recruitment
Recommendation: There is a growing pay disparity between school and college teachers in England, with college staff earning significantly less—on average college teachers earn 15% less. This issue has led to staff dissatisfaction and has contributed to the recruitment and retention …
Gov response: NOT TAKEN FORWARD We welcome the final report of the ESC and appreciate the committee’s interest in funding for pay and pay arrangements in further education (FE). It is right to highlight the ongoing challenges …
Not Accepted
#28 —
Recommendation: The Government should publish a plan to strengthen initial teacher training in physical education and physical activity and ongoing professional development for all teachers, particularly at primary level. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80)
Response Pending
#19 —
Recommendation: Ofsted’s research also found that 44% of primary headteachers and 67% of secondary headteachers reported that responses to financial pressure had led to some reductions in curriculum breadth.41 We asked the Department whether it was monitoring whether schools were dropping …
Gov response: 3: PAC conclusion: We are concerned that financial pressures faced by schools could damage children’s education. 3: PAC recommendation: In carrying out its research, the ESFA should collect sufficient reliable evidence on the impact of …
Accepted
#3 —
Recommendation: We are concerned that financial pressures faced by schools could damage children’s education. Research by Ofsted in 2019 found that a high proportion of headteachers reported reducing staffing levels, narrowing the curriculum and changing how they support pupils with SEND …
Gov response: 3: PAC conclusion: We are concerned that financial pressures faced by schools could damage children’s education. 3: PAC recommendation: In carrying out its research, the ESFA should collect sufficient reliable evidence on the impact of …
Accepted
#8 —
Recommendation: DfE suggested several possible reasons for the particular decline in participation in disadvantaged areas and among disadvantaged learners. First, it told us that there had been bigger drops in participation in lower levels of study than in higher levels. Second, …
Not Addressed
#7 —
Recommendation: We asked DfE about the causes of the decline, both in overall participation and among participants in disadvantaged areas. It replied that one of the main reasons for the overall fall in learner numbers was the reduction in the amount …
Not Addressed
#6 —
Recommendation: DfE has high expectations for its new Unit for Future Skills, but the Unit does not yet have all the skilled staff it needs to meet these expectations. In February 2022, DfE announced the creation of a Unit for Future …
Gov response: 1. PAC conclusion: The Cabinet Office does not have the data or IT system necessary to oversee and manage the government estate. 1. PAC recommendation: The Cabinet Office should get its new property database up …
Not Addressed
#5 —
Recommendation: We are concerned that continuing financial pressures and workforce challenges are hampering colleges’ ability to play a full part in the skills system. Colleges play an important role in reaching disadvantaged groups and giving people opportunities they would not otherwise …
Gov response: 5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented 5.2 The government has made available an extra £1.6 billion for 16-19-year-olds education in 2024-25 financial year, compared with 2021-22. The department is using part …
Accepted
#16 —
Recommendation: The Government should assess the impact of further salary increases on recruitment targets for STEM subjects with particularly acute shortages; and detail its findings in its response to this Report. It should also tell us what further interventions are planned …
Gov response: Recruitment has been challenging, across the economy, as we recover from the pandemic. As expected, the unprecedented increase in new entrants to ITT that we saw in 2020/21, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has declined …
Accepted
#14 —
Recommendation: There are clear benefits when children are taught by teachers with qualifications, professional experience, or specialism in those subjects. The Government should set a target for every child to be taught STEM subjects by teachers with qualifications in that subject …
Gov response: 86. The Department recognises the importance of teachers having strong subject knowledge, particularly in STEM subjects. The Department has designed a suite of professional development opportunities, including National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), to support teachers to …
Accepted
#15 —
Recommendation: Contact explained that the changes in entitlement to transport after age 16 could feel like a “cliff edge” for those that would no longer receive it and that it had huge impacts on the whole family.34 The charity told us …
Response Pending
#49 — Require Department to set out plans addressing maths teacher recruitment and numeracy foundation challenges
Recommendation: There are a number of challenges to be addressed prior to the delivery of this important reform. These include tackling recruitment and retention of specialist maths teachers, and building a stronger foundation of numeracy and mathematical skills and knowledge at …
Gov response: We know that teachers already work tirelessly to deliver high-quality maths education. Rolling out maths to a substantially larger post-16 cohort will require a larger workforce trained and equipped to teach young people the maths …
Accepted
#27 — Incentivise early years settings to provide higher pay for staff development and promotions.
Recommendation: Staff development and promotions in Early Years settings should be met with higher pay. We recommend the Government consider how best to incentivise and fund settings to do this, for example by setting standards for staff pay as a condition …
Gov response: We will continue to explore and review a range of options on how best to support the recruitment and retention of the early years workforce as the rollout of the new entitlements begins. However, we …
Not Accepted
#23 — Department's influence on teacher pay varies, with no pay review body for further education colleges.
Recommendation: The Department’s influence on teacher pay differs across schools and colleges. For secondary schools, the Department sets teacher pay ranges based on advice from a pay review body. Local-authority- maintained schools must apply these ranges, whilst academies set their own …
Gov response: 6.4 The department continues to assess the balance of interventions to provide the best value for money in addressing recruitment and retention issues, such as subject shortages, alongside other government priorities and context such as …
Not Addressed
#10 — Insufficient funding and resources hinder adequate SEN provision and support
Recommendation: Insufficient funding and resources and a mismatch between local authority responsibilities and powers negatively impacts the adequacy of ordinarily available provision and SEN support. We have heard from school leaders and SENCOs that without sufficient resources, settings are struggling to …
Gov response: The overall schools and high needs funding included in the Department’s spending review settlement – an increase of £4.2 billion by 2028–29 compared to 2025–26 – continues the support available for children and young people …
Accepted
NAO Audit Recommendations (4)
Financial sustainability of schools in England
b) Establish why maintained secondary schools are under particular financial pressure. The Department and the ESFA should use that information to identify any further action needed to support secondary schools to be financially sustainable.
Accepted
Financial sustainability of schools in England
We recommend that the Department and the ESFA should take the following actions: a) Assess the impact on provision of the various measures adopted by schools in response to financial pressures, for example reducing staffing levels or changing support for …
Accepted
Regulating the financial sustainability of higher education providers in England
f) review, improve where necessary and then reauthorise student protection plans for all providers to ensure they remain adequate and can respond to new risks; and
Accepted
Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities in England
The Department should identify and share good practice on how mainstream schools can effectively meet the needs of those pupils with SEND who do not have EHC plans.
Accepted
IMB Annual Reports (3)
Parc young person’s unit (2023)
HMP/YOI Parc Young Person’s Unit maintained its reputation as a leading YOI, lauded for its strong leadership, innovative programmes, and compassionate staff-child relationships. The unit successfully reduced violence and improved time out of cells, alongside excellent family contact. However, the report raised concerns regarding the challenged healthcare provision following a staff departure and the quality of education delivered by the new provider.
PRISON
Key concerns
Drake Hall (2022)
Drake Hall generally provides a safe and humane environment, with commendable staff efforts and good healthcare provision. Key concerns persist regarding the unfit condition of two accommodation units, persistent issues with lost property on transfer, and challenges in education provision post-pandemic. The Board also highlights the difficulty in preparing women transferred close to their release dates for resettlement and issues with mental health staffing and low reporting of discrimination incidents.
PRISON
Key concerns
Forest Bank (2022)
HMP Forest Bank transitioned to a reception and resettlement prison, facing challenges from Covid-19 impacts and staff shortages, though a comprehensive reform programme has since improved conditions. Violence and self-harm levels began to decrease, and purposeful activity, alongside time out of cell, increased significantly by the end of the reporting period. While healthcare provision maintained a good standard, mental health transfer waiting times remained a significant concern.
PRISON
Key concerns
IMB Recommendations (15)
Brinsford (2025)
From the Board’s continued observations, the education contract is still not fit for purpose. It has always proved very difficult to hold the provider to account and to ensure that the prison gets good education provision. Not enough is being done to motivate or encourage prisoners to attend regularly or consistently. When will a review be commissioned to look at …
HMPPS
Belmarsh (2025)
When will the Governor make more opportunities available for vocational training?
Governor / Director
Belmarsh (2025)
Will the Prison Service look at ways to mitigate the significant cuts in the education budget?
HMPPS
Foston Hall (2022)
Education delivery being seriously impacted by operational staff shortages and regime restrictions (see paragraph 7.1.1)
Governor / Director
Foston Hall (2023)
There is not enough staff to run reliable library sessions, resulting in a lack of access by prisoners. When will this be addressed?
Governor / Director
Downview (2020)
Despite being raised in three previous annual reports, the London weighting issue and its impact on recruitment and retention in the education department has still not been resolved and remains a real concern (see section 7.1). Given that this issue continues to have such a significant impact on the performance of the education department in the prison, is there any …
Ministry of Justice
Foston Hall (2023)
Disabled prisoners have not been able to access upper floor classrooms, which prevents their participation in the full range of education provision. When will there be a solution?
Governor / Director
Cookham Wood (2023)
When will the education provision at Cookham Wood be improved – both in the quantity of teachers available and the number and range of subjects provided (including vocational subjects) – to make sure it delivers an appropriate and consistent range of learning opportunities, differentiated to meet boys’ individual needs?
HMPPS
Bedford (2023)
It is disappointing that funding to support staffing in the young adults’ unit has been removed.
HMPPS
Cookham Wood (2020)
At the end of August, there were no plans to return to full-time education at Cookham Wood from the beginning of September – as has been deemed a national priority for all other children nationally. When will the YCS allow full-time education to resume for boys in Cookham Wood?
HMPPS
Feltham (2021)
Young prisoners returning to the community need a coordinated approach to resettlement that integrates training, employment, and accommodation, as well as social and financial support. What will you put in place to achieve this?
Ministry of Justice
Durham (2021)
The Board is concerned at the loss of local control and accountability to the Governor of third-party providers to push with pace the work needed in the local context, for example healthcare and education How can the Prison Service strengthen this line of accountability?
HMPPS
Thorn Cross (2024)
To improve outcomes for those following English and mathematics courses.
Governor / Director
Eastwood Park (2023)
The Board is concerned about the provision for remand and short-sentence prisoners. Could this be reviewed to offer education and additional life skills in preparation for resettlement?
Governor / Director
Werrington (2024)
Is the YCS satisfied that education allocations are made in the best interests of young people?
HMPPS
LGO / SPSO Decisions (1591)
PSOW-202201785 — Admissions Appeal Panel - Bassaleg School
Mr X complained about the decision of the School Appeal Panel. Specifically he cited, in his complaint, information that the Panel had not considered in reaching its decision, nor had it sought additional clarification from him. The Ombudsman noted that there was information, directly relevant to the case, which Mr …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Education
Aug 2022
21-011-049 — Surrey County Council
Summary: There was delay in an EHC needs assessment which delayed the issue of a final EHC plan. This in turn delayed when a child could receive the special educational provision they required. The Council will apologise and make a financial payment to acknowledge the impact of the delay.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-012-499 — Kent County Council
Summary: Miss X complained the Council delayed finalising her son’s Education, Health and Care Plan causing distress and financial loss. We found the Council at fault. We recommended the Council provide Miss X with an apology and payment for distress, and act to prevent recurrence.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-006-802 — Kent County Council
Summary: Mrs K complains about a lack of suitable education being provided to her son (Child X) who has special educational needs. Mrs K also complains the Council failed to identify a suitable school placement for Child X and has not updated his Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP). We …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-005-410 — London Borough of Bromley
Summary: Mrs J complains the Council delayed issuing a final EHC Plan for her grandson and has failed to provide him with a full-time education or with a personal budget for education out of school. We have found fault causing injustice. The Council has agreed to make a payment to …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-001-380 — Staffordshire County Council
Mrs B complained the Council failed to secure the provision in her daughter’s Education, Health and Care plan since April 2020. Mrs B says her daughter lost provision and this affected her daughter’s health. The Council was at fault for failing to secure provision and this caused Mrs B and …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Mar 2022
21-017-554 — Liverpool City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X's complaint about the Council’s special education needs team’s actions. We will not get involved with the Tribunal’s actions and it is unlikely we would find fault in the Council’s decision to consult the child’s mother.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Mar 2022
201101257 — Scottish Prison Service
Mr C was identified in late 2009 as requiring an assessment for an offending behaviour programme. He complained to us that he had not yet been assessed and he was concerned that he will not have completed the necessary groupwork prior to his Parole Qualifying Date (PQD). The Scottish Prison …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Prisons
Not Upheld
Nov 2011
PSOW-202309808 — Vale of Glamorgan Council
Mrs A complained that the Council had failed to ensure a safeguarding complaint she made in November 2023 following harm to her child at his primary school was fully investigated and responded to. The school had declined to investigate her complaint as it was of the view that it was …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Jul 2024
PSOW-202207770 — Estyn
The Ombudsman received a complaint from a local authority in Wales, making a complaint on behalf of several individuals (“the Council”),regarding the way His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales (“Estyn”) had dealt with a complaint it had raised on behalf of several individuals. The complaint was about …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Education
Upheld
Aug 2024
23-017-831 — Norfolk County Council
Summary: We uphold a complaint about delay in Y’s Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment and Plan, mainly caused by a shortage of Educational Psychologists. The Council will apologise and make payments to reflect the delay and loss of educational provision. We also uphold a complaint about a failure to …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Jul 2024
23-018-437 — Somerset Council
Summary: Ms X complained that the Council failed to issue her son’s Education Health and Care Plan or provide a suitable education for him between Summer 2022 and March 2024. We found there was significant delay by the Council and during 2023/24 the Council did not provide a suitable education. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Aug 2024
24-021-337 — Worcestershire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse school transport for the complainant’s daughter. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
May 2025
24-021-295 — Oxfordshire County Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Miss X’s complaint about free school meals as we cannot investigate how schools provide them.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
May 2025
24-013-536 — West Berkshire Council
Summary: Ms B complained that the Council had unreasonably (and at short notice) removed her daughter’s bus pass for free transport to school from Ms B’s address.The Council did not properly consider the question of where C’s main residence was and has failed to offer an appropriate remedy for the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
May 2025
24-021-877 — Sheffield City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about alternative educational provision. There is not enough evidence of fault in the way the Council reached its decision that part-time education was sufficient for the child to warrant investigation by us.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
May 2025
24-021-285 — Kent County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to refuse the complainant’s application and appeal for school transport for her daughter. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
May 2025
24-022-094 — Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the complainant’s daughter’s permanent exclusion from a school and her subsequent placement at a Pupil Referral Unit. There is insufficient evidence of fault on the Council’s part to warrant investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
May 2025
24-021-664 — Devon County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to withdraw school transport for Mr X’s child following a new walking route becoming available. We have not seen evidence of fault in the way the Council made its decision.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
May 2025
24-016-644 — Cornwall Council
Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council failed to arrange alternative provision for her son (Y) when he could not attend his school and failed to complete an Annual Review of his Education Health and Care Plan. We found fault with the Council. This fault caused injustice to Y and …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Aug 2025
25-007-218 — Cardinal Newman School, Hove
Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about an unsuccessful appeal for a school place. This is because there is not enough evidence of fault by the panel for us to be able to question its decision.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Aug 2025
24-014-779 — Derby City Council
Summary: The Council was at fault for delay in assessing Mrs X’s child, W, for an Education, Health and Care Plan. This meant W missed out on provision they should have had at a key time in their education. To remedy W’s injustice, the Council will make a symbolic payment …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Sep 2025
24-018-744 — Somerset Council
Summary: Mrs X complained of the Council’s handling of her child, Y’s, Education Health and Care (EHC) Plan. Based on current evidence, the Council was at fault for failing to ensure Y’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan was reviewed within statutory timescales. The Council was also at fault for …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Sep 2025
24-018-160 — Sheffield City Council
Summary: Mrs Y complained the Council failed to secure part of the special educational provision set out in her child, Z’s Education Health and Care Plan. We have found fault causing injustice by the Council because of its service failure in failing to deliver support for Z to attend the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Sep 2025
25-003-743 — Brighton & Hove City Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about changes to the Council’s Early Years Provider Agreement which he says threaten the viability of his business. There is not enough evidence of fault to justify an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Sep 2025
25-003-626 — South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to discontinue taxi travel to school for Mrs X’s child. There is not enough evidence of fault in the way the Council reached its decision to warrant investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Sep 2025
25-003-559 — Kent County Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint about how the Council dealt with her concerns of bullying at her child’s school. This is because the law prevents us from investigating what happens in schools and about how councils investigate these matters.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Sep 2025
25-003-279 — Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s handling of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. This is because Mrs X has used her right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and it was reasonable for her to do so.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Sep 2025
25-004-175 — St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We cannot investigate Ms X’s complaint about the advice sought by the Council during her child’s Education Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment. Ms X has appealed to the SEND Tribunal about the content of the EHC Plan, so we have no power to do so.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Sep 2025
25-004-064 — Hertfordshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council dealt with Mrs X’s contacts about her child’s special educational needs. The matters she complains of are not separable from decisions made about the child’s special educational needs in respect of which she has exercised her right to …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Sep 2025
24-022-865 — Devon County Council
Summary: Mrs X complained that the Council has failed to provide an appropriate level of service and failed to abide by statutory timescales in respect of her daughter’s special educational needs. We will not investigate Mrs X’s late complaint about delays in the Education Health and Care Plan needs assessment. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Sep 2025
24-015-466 — Somerset Council
Summary: We found fault by the Council on Miss Y’s complaint about the Council failing to process her request for an Education, Health and Care plan within statutory timescales when it decided to issue it. It also failed to keep her regularly updated, delayed responding to her complaint, and failed …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Nov 2025
25-013-339 — Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council refusing free home-to-school transport for Mrs X’s child. This is because the Council has recently decided to provide the transport. An investigation would not achieve anything further for Mrs X.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Nov 2025
25-007-702 — London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about education provision. There is insufficient evidence of fault and elements of the complaint fall outside our jurisdiction.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Nov 2025
25-017-836 — Essex County Council
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
25-013-831 — London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
21-001-166 — Derbyshire County Council
Summary: Miss X complained the Council delayed amending her son, C’s, Education Health and Care plan and failed to provide alternative education after C could not attend school. The Council accepted it was responsible for faults in the EHC review process and delays in providing C with a suitable education. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Jan 2022
21-012-993 — London Borough of Barnet
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about where and how the Council makes provision in an Education Health and Care Plan. This is a matter for the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Jan 2022
21-018-374 — Derbyshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the actions of the Council as trustees of a charity. The Charity Commission is better placed to consider the matter complained of.
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Apr 2022
21-013-131 — Hampshire County Council
Summary: Mr X complained about the way the Council handled his son’s Education, Health and Care plan. Mr X said his son missed out on education and social/emotional opportunities. He said it caused unnecessary distress, inconvenience, and cost him time and trouble. We cannot investigate this complaint because it is …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
May 2022
22-002-056 — Surrey County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the suitability of a school for Miss X’s child. This matter is not separable from matters in respect of which she had a right of appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. The earlier part of the period covered by …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
May 2022
22-002-040 — Birmingham City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s actions in meeting Mrs X’s child special educational needs. Her appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal, though conceded by the Council, means she has had access to an alternative remedy and prevents us from considering related matters. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
May 2022
21-012-115 — Hampshire County Council
Summary: The complainant alleged that the Council has failed to provide suitable alternative education to her daughter when she was unable to attend school for medical reasons. The Council has accepted that there was a failure to provide alternative education to the complainant’s daughter between September 2020 and March 2021. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Jul 2022
22-001-569 — Hertfordshire County Council
Summary: Mrs X complained the Council failed to ensure her daughter, F, received provision in line with her Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan after it was issued in June 2021. The Council was at fault because it failed to carry out checks with the school following Mrs X’s complaint …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Nov 2022
21-018-975 — London Borough of Harrow
Summary: Miss X complained about the Council’s failure to provide her son, Y, with the provision set out in his Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan between June 2021 and July 2022 after he moved to the Council’s area. The Council was at fault when it failed to secure the …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Nov 2022
21-019-010 — Lincolnshire County Council
Summary: Miss X complains the Council gave inaccurate advice and failed to provide her son, Y, with suitable or alternative education provision. We have concluded our investigation having not made a finding of fault by the Council. The Council followed its Emotional Based Support Avoidance (EBSA) ladder to assist Y …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Not Upheld
Nov 2022
22-003-262 — Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Liverpool
Summary: We found fault on Miss M’s complaint about the appeal panel failing to follow proper procedures when it rejected her appeal against the School governors’ decision to refuse her son a place in year 7. There is no evidence of the decision at the stage 1 hearing. Irrelevant information …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Nov 2022
22-002-923 — Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Liverpool
Summary: Miss X complained that the independent appeal panel which heard her appeal for a place for her son at the School did not deal with her case fairly as it did not consider her circumstances fully. We find that the panel was at fault in failing to consider her …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Nov 2022
22-000-792 — Salford City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council managed a child’s education provision while a tribunal considered appeals about the child’s education. This is because the matter complained about is not separable from the appeals, and the courts have ruled we cannot say what education should be …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Nov 2022
22-000-730 — East Sussex County Council
Summary: Mr D complained the Council failed to secure education for his daughter, who has special educational needs, for nine months after they moved into its area. We have found fault, as the Council failed to secure (or make sufficient efforts to secure), temporary education while it assessed her needs. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Education
Upheld
Dec 2022