Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Annual Review of EHCP
Within 12 months of the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) being issued the Local Authority must complete the first Annual Review. Subsequent reviews must be completed within 12 months of the previous review or prior to transition (to a new phase or setting).
When a child or young person (CYP) has an EHCP there is a requirement for the plan to be reviewed. In most cases the review will be arranged by the education setting. The review focuses positively on the CYP's progress towards achieving the outcomes and targets specified in their plan and sets new targets or outcomes for the coming year. Additionally, the review should assess the effectiveness of the special educational, health, and social care provisions in supporting the CYP in achieving their outcomes.
Annual Reviews explained
Who is involved in the Annual Review meeting?
Anyone who works with your child or young person may come to the meeting but most importantly the parent carers and the child or young person should have the opportunity to attend the Annual Review.
Professionals may include:
- Class Teacher
- Teaching Assistant
- SENCo/Keyworker
- SEND professionals
- Career professionals
- Health professionals
- Social care professionals
Before the Annual Review meeting
Prior to the meeting the SENCo gathers evidence, including information from parent carers, young people, education setting, health and social care reports.
Two weeks before the meeting invitations are sent out to parent carers, young people and other potential attendees.
The Annual Review meeting
Annual Review meetings are person-centred, ensuring that parent carers and young people are fully involved and able to share their views, feelings, and wishes. These meetings also consider progress and plan for what needs to happen in the coming year.
- Focus on progress made towards achieving outcomes.
- Establish if outcomes are still appropriate and if necessary, agree on new ones.
- Review the short-term targets and set new ones.
- Check that the special educational provision and the arrangements for delivering it is still appropriate and meaning progress can be made.
- Review any health and social care provision.
- Check if aspirations have changed.
- Check if parent carer or young person would like to request a personal budget.
After the Annual Review meeting
The education setting will forward all Annual Review paperwork and reports to everyone who was invited to the meeting and to the Local Authority within two weeks of the meeting taking place.
The Local Authority can then make a decision whether the EHCP should be maintained, amended or ceased. They must inform the parent carer of their decision no longer than 4 weeks after the meeting
Annual Review Timeline
Annual Review Top Tips
- The Local Authority recommends that changes are made to plans during Year 5 and Year 10, to support transition in Year 6 and Year 11.
- From Year 9 upwards an additional section is included to record information on Preparing for Adulthood, this will include careers advice.
- During the Annual Review, ‘live’ changes will be made to your CYP's EHCP.
- The Local Authority encourages families, education settings to encourage children and young people to attend their Annual Review. This may be for the whole meeting or part of the meeting, as appropriate.
- CYP can share their views in an imaginative or creative way.
- Parent carers are encouraged to share their views before or during the meeting, education settings will provide forms for parent carers to complete.
- Parent carers should consider any new involvement or reports from professional who may not have been involved during the EHCNA process
- Parent carers can request support from SEND IASS (Information Advice and Support Service) to prepare for Annual Reviews.