Member

The ombudsman’s remit broadly covers any administrative action taken by local authorities in England, unless specifically excluded by the legislation. Decisions under these sections would be in scope for investigation unless an alternative appeal route was specified. As is the case now, parents will be able to refer complaints about a local authority to the ombudsman. The Department for Education is engaging with the ombudsman to help make this process clearer for parents. With regard to enforcement action while a complaint or appeal is being considered, there is a risk that the noble Lord’s amendment could prolong the time a child spends receiving an unsuitable education, which we cannot support.