Annual reviews

All EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans) must be reviewed at least once a year. If your child is under 5, the SEND Code of Practice says that it should be reviewed more regularly and suggests every 3-6 months.

The review checks that the EHCP still gives an accurate description of need, and appropriate provision and placement. It should focus on the progress made towards achieving the outcomes in the plan and consider whether those outcomes are still appropriate.

The review is a process, not just the meeting. There are things that have to be done before the meeting and afterwards. The entire process must be completed within 12 months of the end of the last Annual review or finalised EHC (Education, Health and Care) Plan.

It is a statutory process and gives parents and young people rights of appeal to challenge Local Authority decisions. Usually the education setting will coordinate the review on behalf of the Local Authority. 

We have produced a flowchart of the Annual Review Process: