Councils need to review children’s special educational needs in the run-up to Key Stage transfers, even if they are staying at the same school, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has said.

The reminder comes after the Ombudsman investigated a complaint from a Warwickshire parent that the county council had not carried out a review of their child’s Education, Health and Care Plan in their key-stage transfer year between primary and secondary school.

Warwickshire County Council had told the parent that because the child was not going to be moving school setting, it did not have to issue their new plan by the statutory deadline of 15 February.

The parent complained to the Ombudsman who found fault with the council’s stance.

Ms Amerdeep Somal, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:

“The courts have made it clear that it is the phase transfer that triggers the duty to review EHC Plans by 15 February, and not a change in educational placement.

“The council could not have decided the child would not be moving schools until it had completed its annual review of their EHC Plan so it needed to complete the phase transfer to establish if they would stay.

“This incorrect approach to EHC Plan reviews is something we have seen being taken in council areas across the country. I would urge those doing this to check their processes to ensure they follow statutory timelines correctly.”

The report comes following the Ombudsman’s review of local government complaints which highlighted a continued increase in the number of complaints it was receiving about special educational needs provision. In its review the Ombudsman said it was now upholding 94% of complaints investigated about special educational needs services.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman remedies injustice and shares learning from investigations to help improve public, and adult social care, services. In this case the council has agreed to apologise to the parent and pay them £300 for the frustration and distress caused by the delay in issuing the EHC Plan.

The Ombudsman has the power to make recommendations to improve processes for the wider public. In this case the council has agreed to issue guidance to staff advising that councils must review EHC Plans in line with statutory guidelines when a child is changing a phase of education.

Concepción Gimeno pide valorar la modificación de la Orden de 22 de marzo de 2004 de Sanidad para revalorizar el precio de 0,06 euros por kilómetro

La justicia de Aragón, Concepción Gimeno, ha emitido una sugerencia dirigida al Departamento de Sanidad en la que pide que se valore la modificación de la Orden 22 de marzo de 2004 por la que se aprobaron las ayudas por gastos de desplazamiento, manutención y hospedaje para pacientes de la Comunidad.

En concreto, la institución insta a la actualización de la cuantía prevista para gastos de desplazamiento, que actualmente se sitúa en 0,06 euros por kilómetro, o la revisión del modelo actual de determinación de dichas ayudas en aras a una mayor efectividad de la garantía de igualdad en el acceso a las prestaciones sanitarias.

Esta sugerencia responde a la queja de un vecino de Tarazona que solicitó la ayuda por tenerse que desplazar a Zaragoza para asistir a un especialista del que no disponía en su ciudad. En la queja muestra su sorpresa por que este precio lleve más de veinte años sin ningún tipo de revalorización.

En la resolución, la justicia de Aragón reconoce que el gasto que asume este paciente por el desplazamiento para recibir asistencia sanitaria especializada supera significativamente la cuantía recogida en la normativa. Además, hace referencia a que la variación del Índice de Precios al Consumo de marzo de 2024 a marzo de 2025 es de un 57,8%, según el INE, y a que, en otras comunidades como Galicia o La Rioja, el precio asciende a 0,15 y 0,16 euros el kilómetro, respectivamente.

La sottoscrizione delle sindache Bottamedi e Campestrin con Bernardi alla presenza di Soini

​​Sale a 140 il numero dei comuni trentini convenzionati con il difensore civico della provincia. L’avvocato Giacomo Bernardi, eletto nel ruolo dal Consiglio provinciale il 10 dicembre scorso, ha raccolto stamane le firme di Eleonora Bottamedi e Daniela Campestrin, rispettivamente sindache dei comuni di Andalo e Torcegno.

La sottoscrizione è avvenuta in presenza del Presidente del Consiglio provinciale Claudio Soini che ha sottolineato l’importanza del ruolo del difensore civico e dell’eccezionale opportunità di avvalersi di un servizio gratuito a beneficio dei cittadini e delle amministrazioni pubbliche. Un servizio prezioso, ha aggiunto Bernardi, svolto nell’ottica della mediazione e del confronto, per superare o placare contenziosi, nell’interesse della collettività.

Le sindache hanno detto di aver risposto volentieri all’appello alla convezione, lanciato nei mesi scorsi dal difensore civico, nella consapevolezza che il servizio risponda all’interesse delle loro comunità.

Mancano all’appello 26 comuni trentini.

On July 29, 2025, the Public Defender visited the social housing located in Bolnisi, Sioni No. 1, where six families are currently living.

The social housing is located in the former building of the so-called mining chemistry, which was used to conduct chemical processes. The overall condition of the building is critical in terms of safety. The building has cracks, a collapsed facade, walls often get wet, there are signs of water coming from the ceiling, the sewage system is faulty, and the basement often floods.

As residents note and it is also visually noticeable, one of the main challenges in the building is dampness. Due to the exceptionally high humidity, there is an unbearable smell in the living rooms and the walls are blackened. The general condition of the rooms allocated to the beneficiaries is inadequate, the walls, floor and ceiling are damaged.

It is worth noting that, like the majority of other social housing facilities in Georgia, the facility located in Bolnisi does not have any administration. Thus, the relevant departments of the City Hall do not systematically monitor conditions in the facility or take effective, timely and efficient steps to eliminate the existing challenges.