Council sorry for sending 99 incorrect letters to parents

A COUNCIL has apologised after a local government watchdog found it wrote almost 100 “mendacious letters” to parents of vulnerable children wrongly saying it had reviewed their care plans.

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman investigated Stockton Council after a mother complained her teenager had missed out on a significant amount of support and been out of school for a long period.

The mum said she was sent letters for two years saying the council had carried out an annual review of the teenager's education, health and care (EHC) plan, when in fact it had not done so.

The council admitted nearly 100 other children and young people with EHC plans had also received letters incorrectly stating reviews had taken place between July 2024 and May 2025. This means their support was not updated properly - but the council says it “did not intend to mislead anyone”.

The Ombudsman recommended the council write to the 99 families in three months “to explain what it did wrong and apologise” and invite them to get in touch and consider an interim review.

In the specific case, the council agreed to apologise to the mum and young person and pay them £5,900 to recognise the impact of four-and-a-half terms’ missed education and frustration caused by the letters.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Amerdeep Somal said: “I am alarmed that the council would send such mendacious letters to nearly 100 families of vulnerable children saying review meetings have taken place when the council was aware they haven't.

“The council told me it issued the letters to comply with its statutory duties - but its duty is to carry out the yearly reviews, not to untruthfully say it has done so.

“Annual reviews are designed to ensure EHC plans still meet the child or young person’s needs, and measure how they are achieving against their targets.