Complaints policy



We will look at your Children's Services complaint through either our main complaint handling process or the statutory process. Once we receive your complaint we will let you know which procedure we are using.

  • Complaints about SEND, school places, school transport, and child protection are usually looked at through our main complaint handling process (non-statutory)
  • Complaints about children in need, children we care for, and post adoption support are usually looked at through the statutory complaints process.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has more information about statutory and non-statutory complaints: Good Practice Guidance - Children's Statutory Complaints Procedure - updated June 2025.