A CATALOGUE of errors which affected the education of a six-year-old girl with special needs were exceptional and should not be repeated, councillors were assured.

Local government watchdog, the Ombudsman, found Newport council guilty of maladministration.

Finalising the girl's statement of special educational needs should have been completed within 26 weeks but instead took 53 weeks which prejudiced her education and caused her mother anxiety.

His report came before the overview and scrutiny committee who have proposed the council approve the recommendations made by the Ombudsman.

Councillors were told the case was the exception rather than the rule and the latest figures showed Newport completed 97.6 per cent of regular statements within the timescale compared with the Welsh average of 76 per cent.

Alan Stubbersfield, Newport's head of education inclusion, said the council should be proud that it was a top performer, but added: "We got it wrong but there is no doubt as to our intention to rectify the situation."

The delay was mainly caused by staff shortages within the SEN section. Procedural changes were also made to address the problems identified in this case.

Chairman Councillor Ron Morris said: "Lots of things went wrong and hopefully we have put that right. We should monitor the situation."

The scrutiny forum recommend the council should: accept the finding of maladminstration; apologise to the girl's mother and pay her £500 compensation; provide additional education support for the girl, and; note the review of procedures and the steps taken to prevent a recurrence.