Every Education, Health and Care Plan must be formally reviewed at least once a year. The annual review checks whether your child's needs, provision and outcomes are still accurate, gives parents and the school a structured opportunity to request changes, and produces a written report that the local authority uses to decide whether to amend the plan.
What is the purpose of the EHCP annual review?
An EHCP is a legally binding document, and the annual review is the mechanism that keeps it live and relevant. Children change — their needs grow, some difficulties ease, aspirations shift, and the level of support required can alter substantially from one year to the next. The review ensures the plan reflects current reality rather than a snapshot taken one or two years ago.
Beyond keeping the document accurate, the review is your formal opportunity as a parent to flag concerns, request additional provision, challenge what is written, or ask the local authority to reconsider the school placement. Outside of a review, amending an EHCP requires a tribunal process; within a review, changes can happen more straightforwardly.
Who attends an EHCP annual review meeting?
The school is responsible for organising the review meeting and must invite:
- You as the parent or carer — your attendance and written views are central
- Your child — where appropriate, particularly at secondary age; their voice must be included even if they do not attend in person
- The SENCO — who coordinates the meeting on the school's behalf
- Relevant teachers — usually the class or subject teachers who work most closely with your child
- Other professionals involved in the plan — for example, a speech and language therapist, educational psychologist or specialist teacher, if their input is current
The local authority must be invited but does not always send a representative to every meeting. You can bring a support person, such as a family friend or a SEND Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIAS) adviser.
What happens before the meeting?
At least two weeks before the meeting, the school must gather written reports from everyone involved and share them with you. You should receive:
- A copy of the current EHCP
- Written contributions from teachers and any professionals working with your child
- A draft review report form
Read these carefully beforehand. You are entitled to add your own written views to the review report — write them down even if you also plan to speak at the meeting. Schools should ask your child to complete a pupil voice section or "My Views" document in a format appropriate to their age and communication style.
What happens at the review meeting itself?
| Stage | What takes place |
|---|---|
| Welcome and introductions | Roles confirmed; the current EHCP is the starting document |
| Progress against outcomes | Each EHCP outcome is reviewed — has it been met, is it still relevant, does it need updating? |
| Review of provision | Is the support listed in Section F actually being delivered? Is it sufficient? |
| Views of the child | Pupil voice document read out or discussed |
| Parental views | You share your perspective — what is working, what is not, what you would like to see change |
| Recommendations | The group agrees what to recommend to the local authority (maintain, amend or cease the EHCP) |
| Next steps | Actions noted, timeline confirmed |
The meeting should feel collaborative, not confrontational. If you have concerns about how a meeting is being run, you can pause and ask for clarification at any point.
What happens after the review?
Within two weeks of the meeting, the school must send the review report to the local authority and to you. The local authority then has four weeks to make one of three decisions:
- Maintain the EHCP — the plan stays as it is, with minor factual updates
- Amend the EHCP — a draft amended plan is sent to you for consultation before the final version is issued
- Cease the EHCP — the authority proposes to end the plan, with reasons
If the plan is to be amended, you have at least 15 working days to comment on the proposed changes before the final plan is issued. You must receive the final amended EHCP within eight weeks of the decision to amend.
What can parents request at an annual review?
You can use the review to formally request:
- Updated assessments (educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy)
- Changes to the provision in Section F
- A change of school placement
- A personal budget to fund some elements of the EHCP
- Specialist support not currently included in the plan
Keep a written record of anything you request verbally during the meeting. If something important is not reflected in the review report that the school sends you, write to the SENCO within a few days to ask for the record to be corrected.
What if you disagree with the outcome?
If the local authority decides to amend or cease the EHCP in a way you disagree with, you have the right to appeal to the SEND Tribunal (First-tier Tribunal, Special Educational Needs and Disability). You must register your appeal within two months of the final decision letter. Before going to tribunal, you are strongly encouraged to consider SEND mediation — it is a legal requirement to consider mediation, though not to undertake it, before tribunal registration.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an EHCP annual review take?
Most review meetings last between one and two hours, though this varies with the complexity of the child's needs and the number of professionals involved. Allowing two hours in your diary is sensible. The broader review process — from the school sending out invitations to the local authority issuing a final decision — can take up to twelve weeks in total.
Can I request an early review of the EHCP before the annual review is due?
Yes. You, the school, or another professional involved with your child can request an early review at any point if circumstances change significantly — for example, following a new diagnosis, a significant deterioration in your child's mental health, or an impending change of school phase (such as the transition from primary to secondary). The local authority is not obliged to grant every early review request, but they must consider it.
What is the transition review at Year 9?
The annual review in Year 9 (when your child is aged 13–14) has additional legal requirements. It must include preparation for adulthood outcomes, covering employment, independent living, community participation and health. From Year 9 onwards, every annual review must address these transition goals, and the EHCP must include an outcomes section focused on life after school.
What happens if the school does not hold the annual review on time?
The local authority has a legal duty to ensure the review takes place. If the school has not initiated the review and the anniversary date is approaching, contact the SEND team at your local authority directly. If the review is significantly delayed, you can make a formal complaint to the local authority, and in persistent cases, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman can investigate.
If your child has a learning plan or needs extra support in a subject, AI Tutors provides patient, personalised tutoring that adapts to how they learn.