Annual Reviews of Education, Health and Care Plans

Overview

The Annual Review is the statutory process by which a child/young person’s progress against the outcomes set out in the EHC Plan are reviewed in order to ensure that the provision and targets are up to date and relevant. The review also helps to consider whether the EHC Plan is still necessary to support the child/young person’s needs in the future, and to plan the outcomes for the coming year, setting new outcomes if necessary.

Statutory requirements

  • An Annual Review must be undertaken in partnership with the child and their parent/carer, or the young person (if over 16), and must take account of their views, wishes and feelings, including their right to request a Personal Budget.
  • A Personal Budget is the amount of money identified by the LA to deliver aspects of provision set out in an EHC Plan where the parent/carer or young person (over 16 years of age) is involved in securing that provision. The funds may be held and managed either by the LA, setting/school/college; the family; a third-party arrangement; or a combination of the aforementioned.
  • The Annual Review process must be completed on or before the anniversary of when the EHC Plan was first issued or the anniversary of the last review.
  • In the Early Years an EHC Plan should be reviewed every 6 months up to the child’s 5th birthday (SEND Code of Practice, pg. 198, 9.178)

The Annual Review Meeting

Before the meeting

  • The host (usually the SENCO in the educational setting) will contact relevant professionals to gather up-to-date reports and must contact the parent/carer and child/young person to invite them to contribute their views, wishes and feelings.
  • The host must send an invitation to attendees at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting date and circulate copies of the gathered reports and views.
  • The host should arrange a suitable meeting place, where confidential conversations can be held without disruption.

During the meeting

  • The aim of the process is to review the child/young person’s progress towards achieving outcomes and must cover the following:

– Are the outcomes and objectives still appropriate? Agree new outcomes or shortterm objectives if required.

– Is the educational provision (including any health and social care provision) and the arrangements for delivering still appropriate?

– Have the aspirations of the child/young person changed? From Year 9 onwards, Annual Reviews must include an explicit focus on the child/young person’s aspirations for the future in relation to preparing for adulthood outcomes (paid employment, good health, independent living and community inclusion/participation).

– Is a Personal Budget required?

Following the meeting

  • The host must prepare a report including any recommendations for amendments to the EHC Plan, documenting differences of opinion if necessary, rather than a general consensus. This must be circulated to those invited and the LA within 2 weeks of the meeting.
  • The LA will consider the review documentation and decide whether the EHC Plan should either remain unchanged; be amended or be ceased. The LA must inform the parent/carer or young person of this decision within 4 weeks from the review date and should be no later than the anniversary of either when the EHC Plan was first issued or the previous Annual Review.

Special review meetings

  • The Year 5 Annual Review helps to inform decisions about the transfer from primary to high school and is an opportunity to make clear recommendations about the type of provision a child/young person needs on transition to high school. The Year 6 review is then an opportunity to make sure these arrangements are working or consider alternative / additional planning.
  • The Year 11 and Year 13 Annual Reviews will be held shortly before a young person leaves school. There will need to be a focus on the support needed by the young person in preparing for adulthood considering paid employment, independent living, good health and community inclusion/participation.
  • In some cases it may be appropriate to call an Annual Review ahead of the usual timeframe. This would typically be when there has been a significant change in circumstances, where a significant change is anticipated, or where it is felt that the support outlined in the EHC Plan may no longer be needed