EHCP Annual Reviews
The annual review process
The annual review is a statutory process, and the steps that must happen are in the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014:
- an annual review meeting must take place to discuss the EHC plan
- the local authority must consult with the parent of the child or young person and the school or institution they attend (if they attend one), and take account of their views, wishes and feelings
- information must be gathered from parents, young people and professionals about the EHC plan and circulated two weeks before the meeting.
- a report of what happened in the meeting must be prepared and circulated to everyone who attended or submitted information to be discussed within two weeks of the meeting
- the LA reviews the EHC plan after the meeting
- the LA must notify the parent of the child or young person of their decision within four weeks of the meeting
The legal duty to review an EHC plan is on the local authority, but where a child or young person attends a maintained school or nursery, and academy, a pupil referral unit, a special school or a section 41 independent educational institution, the LA can require that the educational setting holds the annual review meeting on the LA's behalf. The LA can also ask (but not require) any other setting to hold the meeting. This means that the annual review meeting will most likely be held at you or your childs school, nursery or college, and led by a member of staff from the school, nursery or setting.