The annual review is the statutory process of looking at the special educational needs, special educational provision and outcomes specified in an education, health and care plan (EHCP) and deciding if these need to change.
By law, the local authority (BCP Council) must complete the first review of a child or young person’s EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life. within 12 months of it being finalised, and subsequent reviews must be completed within 12 months of the previous review. If a child is under five years old, BCP Council will review the EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life. every six months.
A child or young person’s annual review is an important opportunity to reflect on progress over the past year and plan ahead for the future.
Sometimes a child or young person’s special educational needs change as they get older, meaning they may need more or less support. Services also change over time, and new services or support may become available that weren’t available when the EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life. was first written. It's important to make sure the child or young person’s EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life. accurately reflects him/her/them as an individual and that the level of support and the setting, school or college named on the EHCPEHCPA legal document that describes a child or young person's special educational, health and social care needs. It explains the extra help that will be given to meet those needs and how that help will support the child or young person to achieve what they want to in their life. is still appropriate.
The annual review is also an opportunity to consider personal budget arrangements.
Principles of a good review
The SEND Code of Practice tells us that annual review meetings must focus on the child or young person, and particularly:
- their progress towards achieving the outcomes specified in their EHCP
- their outcomes being appropriate to their needs
A good review should:
- be child and family centred, focused on finding out what's important to parents and carers and the child or young person, now and in the future
- ensure everyone is treated equally and is able to make an equal contribution
- be transparent, placing things in order of importance, easy to understand and clear
- be able to consider what is working and find solutions to what is not working.
Read this guide to Person Centred Planning meetings.
Who should be invited to the review meeting?
The SEND Code of Practice states that, when a child or young person attends a school or other institution, the following people must be invited to their annual review:
- the child or young person
- the child’s parent or carer or the young person’s parent or carer, if appropriate
- a representative of any other educational setting the child or young person attends (for example, an alternative provider)
- a local authority SEND officer.
Additional professionals may also be invited when appropriate, such as:
- a representative from any health services provided to the child
- a local authority social care representative
- others such as:
- a worker from the youth justice service
- an inclusion officer
- a representative of the child or young person’s next educational setting.
What happens before the review meeting?
The SENCO should prepare for the review meeting with parents and carers and/or the young person by:
- agreeing who will be invited
- discussing what the young person and/or parent or carer’s hopes for the meeting are and what outcomes they want to achieve
- agreeing how the young person and/or parent or carers want to participate in the meeting
- considering what tools or materials will be used at the meeting to support the process
- sending invitations to the review six weeks in advance of the meeting with a copy of the current EHCP
- circulate reports from all relevant professionals and the views of the parent or carer and the child or young person at least two weeks before the date of the review meeting
Professionals who are unable to attend should send the SENCO a written report on progress at least two weeks before the meeting, to be included in circulation.
What needs to be covered at the meeting?
- what is important for the child or young person and parent or carer
- what progress is being made towards the agreed outcomes
- preparing the child or young person for adulthood
- any concerns or challenges (including any changes in needs or updated diagnoses)
- how the child or young person is being supported and what provision is being made
- the impact of the support being offered
- what will happen next, who will do it, and by when.
The result should be a clear set of actions that reflect the child or young person as a whole individual. The process should feel positive and be focused on outcomes.
What happens after the meeting?
The education establishment is expected to send the completed review paperwork to the BCP Council SEND service within two weeks of the date of the meeting. The local authority must consider the recommendations from the meeting and decide to maintain, amend or cease the EHCP within a further two weeks. If a parent or carer or the young person disagrees with a decision to maintain or cease, or the content of the EHCP following amendment, they can appeal.
EHCP reviews for young people age 16 and older
At the end of the school year in which a young person turns 16, they will become the decision maker in the EHCP process instead of their parent or carer.
Parents or carers are likely to continue to have an important input, and for young people aged 16-17, parents still have parental responsibility; however, under the Mental Capacity Act, the ultimate decision rests with the young person. Everyone is considered as having capacity unless a Mental Capacity Assessment shows otherwise.
For this reason, from the age of 16, BCP Council requires a young person’s consent to share their information as part of the annual review process.
Further information and support
You can read more about annual reviews in the SEND Code of Practice (paragraphs 9.166 to 9.185).
SENDiass4BCP can also help. They can:
- provide you with advice and support in preparing for an annual review
- accompany you to meetings
- provide you with details of other organisations, support groups and services that may be of help
Visit their website for a range of information about annual reviews.
IPSEA also have information on the annual review process. This includes an annual review checklist which can be used by parents and carers to check whether the necessary steps are being followed in your annual review