Annual reviews of EHC plans
The annual review is the statutory process where the aspirations, needs, provision and progress towards outcomes specified in an EHC plan are reviewed. At times this is called a person-centred review, ensuring that it puts children or young people at the heart of the discussion. The review must include the child or young person, any people they want there and other professionals such as the education setting, social care and health professionals.
An annual review must happen at least:
- once every 12 months - children aged 5+
- once every 6 months - children under 5
The process takes eight weeks to complete which includes an annual review meeting.
How do you request an annual review?
Usually, the education setting will hold an annual review meeting on behalf of the Local Authority. The Local Authority will provide a list of children and young people who will require a review of their EHC plan that term to all schools or settings attended by children or young people with EHC plans.
At times the Local Authority will arrange and chair annual review meetings.
If a parent, carer or a setting have concerns about the education placement or it is felt the needs of child or young person’s have changed, an early annual review can be held. This can be done by requesting this via the school, setting or the Local Authority.
What is the timeline for the annual review process?
The Local Authority will notify schools where Camden children and young people with EHCPs attend, of annual reviews that need to take place each term. The school or setting will liaise with families and arrange an annual review date. They will also discuss any professionals required to attend the annual review. The annual review date will be shared with the Local Authority.
If the Local Authority are setting the annual review date a Case Officer will make contact to arrange this date. They will also discuss any professionals to attend the annual review.
The school or setting will gather advice and updated reports for the annual review meeting. Parents will also be asked to provide their views, as well as the child or young person views.
2 weeks prior to the annual review meeting date all advice and reports should be shared with the annual review invite.
Within 10 days of the Annual Review meeting, the completed annual review paperwork must be sent back to the Local Authority within 10 days of the annual review being held.
Within 4 weeks of the Annual Review meeting date (typically 2 weeks following receipt of paperwork), the Local Authority must share their decision on the outcome of the Annual Review.
If your child or young person is in transition school year, their EHC plan will follow the Phase Transfer Annual Review process. Phase Transfer refers to when a child or young person is transitioning to a new phase of school: joining Reception, joining Year 7 or moving on to Year 12 or Year 14 in post-16.
What are the possible outcomes of the annual review?
Following receipt of the Annual Review paperwork, the Local Authority will make a decision on the outcome of the Annual Review. A case officer from Camden’s SEND Team will contact you and share the Local Authorities decision, which will be one of the following:
Amend the EHC Plan
This means there will be changes made to the EHC Plan which have been proposed through the annual review. Once changes have been a proposed amended EHC Plan will be issued to parents/carers or young person. There will be 15 days to consider the changes and provide views from parent/carer, child and young person. This is called a formal consultation period.
Maintain the EHC Plan with no changes
The Local Authority will write to you with a ‘no change letter’, this means following the annual review no changes have been made to the EHC Plan and the plan will continue to be maintained.
Cease to maintain the EHC Plan
If the Local Authority decide it is no longer necessary to maintain the EHC Plan, the allocated Case Officer will make contact and share the Local Authority’s SEND Panel
decisions, where the recommendations from the annual review will have been considered.
A propose to cease to maintain EHCP letter will be provided, which will detail the reasons for the proposal. Following this, there will be a 15 day period to provide views, which will be formally considered by the Local Authority.
The Local Authority will consider any views and decide to either continue to cease the EHC Plan or maintain it. If the EHC Plan is ceased, a Case Officer will provide a cease to maintain final letter and offer a moving forward meeting, ensuring clear explanation of mediation and appeal rights.
Contact Details
Special Educational Needs (SEN) Team
Duty Phone Line: 020 7974 6500
Email Address: [email protected]
If you would like independent support and information, you can contact Camden Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS) for impartial information, advice and support.