Annual Review of an Education Health and Care Plan
In accordance with the SEN Code of Practice, all Education, Health and Care Plans (EHC Plans) must be reviewed at least annually. The Annual Review is a vital Part of the academic year, as an opportunity to ensure the support detailed in the EHC Plan has been provided, and remains appropriate.
It is also a forum in which parents/carers, educational/training settings and pupils can raise any concerns regarding the support or placement, and have these addressed wherever possible. Of equal importance, the annual review is an opportunity to celebrate a pupil’s successes throughout the year.
The Annual Review should be person-centred, taking into consideration the needs of the pupil and their parent(s)/carer(s). Educational/training settings have the flexibility to adapt their Annual Review Process in order to meet these needs, but must ensure that the Annual Review Report Form is completed thoroughly.
Before the Annual Review, the SEN Team issues Annual Review planning reports at the beginning of each academic year, detailing the date by which each EHC Plan must be reviewed. Educational/training settings should plan Annual Reviews for the academic year in accordance with these dates.
All professionals involved with a pupil should be invited to the Annual Review (and encouraged to provide a written report if appropriate). If it is felt that an updated professional report is necessary (e.g. an updated SALT report, further assessment of a pupil’s skills by an Educational Psychologist) this must be requested by the educational/training setting early enough to ensure that a completed report is available for the Annual Review. A draft Annual Review Report Form should be issued to all those invited to the meeting at least two weeks prior to the Annual Review meeting, accompanied by any relevant reports (e.g. Educational Psychologist Record of Contact, SALT report, Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy report). This allows the individuals the opportunity to read through each report prior to the meeting, and to prepare any responses.
Please find below the revised Annual Review paperwork, guidance and checklist, which was launched at the SEND Forum held in June 2019. The changes made have been in response to feedback received from schools, colleges and parents/carers. All settings should use these new documents from the start of term (September 2019).
Checklist for Annual Review Paperwork to submit for Annual Review
Child/young person Contribution: This is me - younger
Child/young person Contribution: This is me - older
Parent/Carer Views for Annual Review
KS1 to Post-16 Request for a Change in High Needs Funding
Undertaking a Person-centred Annual Review
Swindon Annual Review Checklist
Example Annual Review Invite Letter
The Annual Review and EHC Plan Short Surveys
We are putting real effort into asking for feedback on our delivery of services and planning ahead for SEND.
We have already gone live with the short surveys for parents and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)- for completion when a draft plan is issued or when an annual review has happened
Click here to find the links to the SEND short surveys page
Decision Making Toolkit
A practical guide to supporting young people with special
educational needs and disabilities to make their own
decisions and to be engaged in the best interests decision
making process