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Education, health and care plan annual reviews

Every year we will review your child or young person's education, health and care plan (EHC). This is called an annual review process.

To take into account the faster pace of growth and development in early childhood, children under 5 should be reviewed every 3 to 5 months and annually.

As your child starts Year 9, they'll be encouraged to plan their future through their Year 9 annual review.

Before the meeting

Two weeks before the meeting, the child's or young person's education setting will:

  • send invitations to parents, carers, the child or young person, the education setting and other professionals who work with them or support them
  • get advice and information about the child or young person and send it to everyone invited
  • prepare a report for those invited to the meeting, including recommendations about any changes to the EHC plan, and mention any differences between their recommendations and others'
  • let the child or young person talk about the support they receive, how they feel, and their progress using a person-centered approach.

We value the views and opinions of children, young people, and their families, as outlined in our transition charter and co-production charter.

A review may be requested outside the normal 12-month period if there are concerns about the child's progress. This is called an early annual review, sometimes referred as the additional review.

For more information about the annual review process read the SEND code of practice 2015 (page 194 - section 9)

During the meeting attendees will

  • discuss and consider whether the support in place for the child or young person is helping them to make progress,

  • think about whether new outcomes need to be set

  • think about whether the EHC plan is still needed

  • think about the next steps to support the child or young person's journey to adulthood

  • focus on the transition and preparation for adulthood and independent living if the child is in year 9 or above

  • record any significant changes to their needs or circumstances that relate to their SEN.

Who will be invited

  • Parent(s), the child or young person.

  • A relevant teacher (class teacher or form teacher, the SENCO, or another person responsible for the provision of your child’s education).

  • A representative from the local authority must be invited but they will not be able to attend every annual review meeting.

  • A health service representative, if relevant

  • A social care representative, if relevant.

  • Anyone else considered to be appropriate.

After the meeting

Within 2 weeks of the meeting

  • The educational setting must send the annual review meeting report to us, setting out any recommendations.
  • This report and any reports gathered before the meeting must be sent to everyone invited to the annual review meeting.

Within 4 weeks of the meeting

We will let you know in writing of the decision to either:

  • maintain the EHC plan as it is
  • amend the EHC plan
  • cease to maintain the EHC plan.

The letter we send will also tell you about:

It is important to remember that decisions about the EHC plan will not be made at the annual review meeting. The meeting will make recommendations to us. We will then consider the recommendations and then make a decision within 4 weeks of the meeting.

Or download IASK's easy read guide (PDF, 375.1 KB) to explain who you can talk to if you disagree with the decisions.

EHC needs reassessment

A review of your child or young person’s EHC plan every year is a good way to check their progress but sometimes that will not be enough. If your child or young person's needs, or situation, change a lot, they might need a statutory reassessment, this means having a new EHC needs assessment.