Annual review

Where a child or young person has an EHC plan, it must be reviewed at least once a year by the local authority (“LA”). This is to ensure it stays up-to-date and continues to provide the support the child or young person needs.

At the end of the review, there are only three decisions the LA can make:

1. To maintain the EHC plan in its current format (not make any changes);
2. To amend the EHC plan;
3. To cease the EHC plan if they think it is no longer necessary for it to be in place

In each case, even if the LA decides not to make any changes, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) (the “SEND Tribunal”) to try to get changes made to the EHC plan. (If the LA has decided to amend the EHC plan, you can appeal once you have been sent the final amended EHC plan.)

If the child or young person is coming up to a phase transfer (for example, moving from primary school to secondary school), the LA must carry out the review well in advance of the move.

Click on the links below to read more. 

The annual review process

Annual reviews in Year 9 and beyond

Annual reviews in advance of a transfer between phases of education

Complaining when the LA has not completed an annual review

Objecting to the amendments the LA is proposing to make to an EHC plan