Annual Reviews

To change an existing EHC Plan, you'll need to request this through the Annual Review process.

EHC Plans are normally reviewed annually. If a child with SEN is under 5 years old, their plans need to be reviewed more frequently every 3 to 6 months.

Parents, carers, young people, educational settings or any professionals involved can request interim or early reviews if they feel it is necessary. You might request an interim review for the following reasons:

• further needs have been identified, which are not being met 
• the existing placement no longer meet the child's needs

An interim review is automatically triggered if a child is permanently excluded.

How to request an interim review

Write to your SEND practitioner at the local authority to request an interim review. Explain your reasons for making the request.
IPSEA have produced a model letter which can be used to request an interim annual review and information about making a request.

What an Annual Review is

The purpose of an EHC Plan Annual Review is to make sure that the contents of the EHC Plan are still relevant and helping the child or young person to work towards their aspirations and the outcomes set out in the EHC Plan.

The Annual Review is a statutory process giving parents and young people rights of appeal. The annual review meeting is a formal meeting which is an opportunity to look closely at the plan to make sure it's helping the child or young person achieve their goals as they get older. It is the responsibility of the local authority to arrange annual reviews. Normally the local authority will ask or require the education setting to organise and hold the annual review on its behalf.'

During the Annual Review you can request changes to the EHC Plan.  You can request changes to the description of need, the support that is provided, or the outcome that is worked towards.

Who attends the Annual Review

The following people must be invited to the meeting: 

• The child’s parent or the young person 
• The education provider – nursery, school, college.
• The local authority (a member of staff from the SEND team) 
• Health care professionals 
• Social care team

You can ask for other practitioners who have been working with the child or young person to be invited to the meeting. You can also be accompanied to the meeting by e.g., a friend or relative who is able to support you.

If you would like someone from Sendias Bathnes to support you at the meeting or to help you, your child or a young person prepare for the meeting, please contact us to discuss this further. 

Before the Annual Review

Before the Annual Review takes place, the child or young person whose plan it is and their parents or carers should  be asked for their  views on how the EHC Plan is working. The education setting and any professionals involved will be asked for advice/reports.

All information including any updated reports must be circulated two weeks before the Annual Review meeting.

Annual Review meeting

At the annual review meeting, discussion of the EHC plan should include:

• considering the advice and information provided
• progress towards achieving outcomes and what changes might be needed

From year 9 onwards the Annual Review meeting should also consider the four “Preparing for Adulthood” pathways:

• Education,
• Employment and Training
• Independent Living
• Health and Community Inclusion

What happens next

A report of what happened at the meeting must be prepared and circulated by the Local authority, This is normally done by the education setting on behalf of the local authority. This must be sent to everyone who attended or submitted information for the annual review. The report must:

• Be sent within 2 weeks of the meeting 
• Set out recommendations such as changes to the EHC plan 
• Set out any differences between those attending the meeting
• Include copies of the advice and information

The local authority then review the EHC Plan based on the meeting and report from it and must decide to:

• amend the EHC Plan 
• maintain it as it is
• cease to maintain or stop the plan altogether

The local authority must notify the young person or parent/carer and education provider of their decision, with their reasons within 4 weeks of the meeting.

Your right to appeal

If you do not agree with the outcome of the Annual Review, you have the right to appeal any decision.

For more information please see our pages on mediation and appeals.