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Annual review of an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan

A review of an EHC Plan must take place at least once a year (or every 6 months if the child is under 5). This is to make sure:

  • the plan describes a child or young person’s needs in an accurate way, and
  • the right support for them is in place.

A meeting is held as part of the review.

The child or young person’s school, nursery or college arranges the annual review in most cases. They will ask relevant professionals to attend or send up to date information about your child. 

If a child or young person is educated at home or has an EOTAS package then it is the responsibility of the Local Authority to make sure a review meeting is held.

You and your child will be asked to give your views as part of the review. You can do this in writing if you want. You will also be invited to the review meeting.

Any reports about your child must be sent out at least two weeks before the meeting. This includes those sent in by parents.

3 cartoon people. 2 men and a woman in a wheelchair

Annual Reviews for transition

If a child or young person is due to move education phases (you might hear this called transition) then SENDSARS advise schools to hold annual reviews for:

  • Nursery going into Reception.  The transition review should be held during the autumn term of their last year in nursery.
  • Infant school (Year 2) going to Junior school (Year 3).  The transition review should be held by the end of the summer term in Year 1.
  • Year 6 going into Year 7.  The transition review should be held by the end of the summer term in Year 5.
  • Year 11 going into Post-16.  The transition review should be held by the end of the summer term in Year 10.

After the review meeting

The child or young person’s school, nursery or college will send everyone a report of the meeting within two weeks. This should set out any recommended changes to the EHC plan.  If we don't get the report back until 8 weeks after the meeting then we will be unable to process the review within the 12 week timescale. 

The report is looked at by the local authority’s SEND Statutory Assessment and Review Service (SENDSARS). They will tell you what the outcome of the review is, within four weeks of the review meeting.

The outcome could be:

  • The EHC plan is suitable as it is.  You may hear this called the EHC plan is being maintained.
  • The EHC plan needs updating.  You may hear this called the EHC plan is being amended.
  • The EHC plan should end as the child or young person no longer needs the specialist support it provides. You may hear this called the EHC plan will cease.

If the local authority decides to update the plan, it will ask you to comment on the updates.  They will send you out a draft plan to check.  You can speak to SENDSARS about the draft.  You can telephone them or e-mail to arrange a meeting.

Annual Review flowchart. Other languages are available under the Links and documents section on this page.

If the local authority thinks the EHC plan should end

They will discuss this with the young person, family and school or college.

Further information

See our flowcharts in the Links and documents section of this page. This is on the right-hand side of this page if you are on a computer or tablet.  On a mobile phone these will show at the bottom.  These explain the EHC Plan annual review process. Information in alternative languages is also provided.

Please download the document "EHCP Annual Reviews - guidance for education providers" for more detailed information.

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