DORSET Council has been told to pay compensation after a boy with special educational needs was left without proper education for more than two years - leaving his mother 'with no choice' but to place her other child into foster care due to the impact upon the family.

During an investigation the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman heard how the boy had missed a total of 27 months of schooling after the council failed in its duty to find him a suitable placement.

The boy, who cannot be identified, had been expelled from mainstream secondary school in 2017. The Ombudsman said the prolonged period without education has "greatly damaged his development and life chances" as well as having "serious adverse affects" on the family.

The boy's mother explained how her son had effectively been isolated and prevented from building social relationships with others, adding that this meant he would often fight with his sibling.

She said the hostility within the household "grew to such an extent that she felt she had no choice but to send her other child into foster care."

The Ombudsman upheld her complaint, agreeing the council's failings had had a life changing impact on the family and caused "serious harm" to the boy's education and interpersonal skills.

The investigator also found that the council delayed in providing an Education and Health Care Plan and did not keep in contact with the mother throughout the process. Dorset Council was advised to provide, within one month, a written apology and pay £500 compensation for each of the 27 months of education the boy had missed, amounting to a total of £13,500.

The Ombudsman also advised that the council should pay the mother an additional £1,500 "to acknowledge the serious harm and distress she has suffered," and carry out a full review within three months to identify improvements for supporting children out of education.

The investigator concluded: "The council accepts that it did not provide a suitable education provision for (the boy) for a protracted period. While there were wider events that made finding provision complex, the council accepts that it was its duty to ensure that appropriate provision was in place and it did not do so.

"It should be noted the council did provide alternative provision with tutor support over this period, but this amounted to only three hours per week."

Dorset Council confirmed that the compensation has now been paid as per the Ombudsman's recommendation.

A spokesman said: "Whilst we do not comment on individual cases we treat any child missing a period of education with absolute priority. The findings are being acted on and changes being made to improve the way we support families.

"Dorset Council is ambitious for all of its children with SEND and we are making a big investment in support for children with SEND through our ambitious SEND Capital Strategy.

"This includes a £37.5m investment to create new special schools with fantastic facilities, the expansion of high quality provision in existing special schools and the development of new facilities at mainstream schools. We want all children and young people to receive the best education.”