Some special needs pupils denied education - ombudsman

Some children with special educational needs are being left without education for significant periods, a local government ombudsman report says.

The watchdog's report highlights cases of pupils unlawfully excluded from school and denied specialist support.

Others are having their educational opportunities limited due to long delays in providing support, it adds.

The education department says it is overhauling the SEN system as too many pupils do not get the help they need.

The ombudsman receives more complaints about education and children's services than any other area. Some 17% of its 20,186 complaints last year were in this area. And complaints about SEN provision accounted for 8.6% of these.