Annual reviews

The Annual Review is a process involving a number of steps, not just a single meeting. When a child or young person has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) it must be reviewed every 12 months to monitor their progress and see if any changes need to be made to the plan. Where the child is under five, this needs to be done every six months. 

In line with the Code of Practice the Local Authority requires schools and settings to convene and hold annual reviews. The school must arrange the Annual Review and make sure that any Health and Social Care colleagues who should be there are invited. 

Schools must: 

• Plan, arrange and hold the Annual Review meeting at least four weeks before the review due date, so that they keep in line with statutory timescales. 
• Make sure that everyone involved is invited to the meeting, with at least two weeks’ notice and make sure that they are allowed appropriate representation. 
• Record the views, wishes and feelings of children/young people and their parents/carers. 
• Think carefully about the child or young person’s progress and collect evidence and advice about any changes needed to their EHCP. 
• Recommend whether to maintain (leave the plan as it is), amend (make changes to the plan) or cease (end) the plan. 
• Provide a written report of the meeting to the LA, with relevant data/ information that feeds into the review process (e.g. progress data). 
• The LA SENMAS Team regularly remind schools and other settings of annual review dates. 
• The annual review checklist can be found on this page under 'Related documents - EHC needs assessments'.