Richmond Council Pays £1,800 Over Missed PE Sessions
A watchdog found the council at fault for failing to ensure a girl with special needs received her planned physical education.
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How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
No affected parties quoted beyond ombudsman report summary.
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Headline overstates council's admission of fault without direct quote.
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Richmond Council has paid £1,800 to the father of a girl with special educational needs after she missed out on physical education sessions. A Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman report identified failings in the council's oversight of her education, health, and care plan (EHCP).
The girl's father, referred to as Mr X, lodged a complaint in May 2025. He stated that his daughter was not receiving the PE provision outlined in her EHCP, which had been in place since August 2024. The plan specified that PE sessions should be delivered with consideration for the girl's capacity for engagement. The ombudsman's investigation confirmed the council was at fault for not ensuring this provision was delivered, causing Mr X avoidable distress and frustration. The report noted that as of late May 2025, there was no PE provision available for the girl.
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The council has issued a written apology to Mr X and the girl. As per the ombudsman's recommendations, the financial payment was made to compensate for the missed PE sessions during the investigation period. The council stated that the PE provision is expected to commence in September, coinciding with the girl's move to a new placement. A spokesperson for Richmond Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they deeply regret the situation and have accepted the ombudsman's findings in full. They affirmed their commitment to ensuring children receive the support outlined in their EHCPs.
The council's children's services contractor, Achieving for Children (AfC), will be implementing improved practices. These changes include stronger oversight of the provision detailed in section F of EHCPs, particularly for new and amended plans and when a change of placement occurs. These enhancements are scheduled to be in place before the start of the new academic year.
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Questions this report answers
+Why did Richmond Council have to pay £1,800?
Richmond Council paid £1,800 because the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found it at fault for failing to ensure a girl with special needs received her planned PE sessions. The payment was made to compensate for the missed provision during the investigation period.
+What was wrong with the girl's PE provision?
The girl's PE provision was not delivered as outlined in her education, health, and care plan (EHCP), which had been in place since August 2024. The ombudsman confirmed the council failed to ensure the sessions were provided, causing distress to her father.
+When will the girl receive her PE sessions again?
The council expects the girl's PE provision to recommence in September, when she moves to a new placement. This follows the ombudsman's recommendations and the council's acceptance of the findings.
+What changes will the council make to prevent this happening again?
The council's contractor, Achieving for Children, will introduce stronger oversight of PE provisions in EHCPs, particularly for new or amended plans and placement changes. These improvements are planned before the new academic year begins.
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