An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Annual Review is a yearly meeting to make sure your young person’s EHCP is still meeting their needs.
The annual reviews take place around the same time as the previous year’s meeting. Except for Phase Transfer reviews which take place in the first term of the academic year.
It’s a chance to review and celebrate progress, and make any changes needed to support your young person better.
What happens during the review?
- Most meetings are conducted online via MS Teams. For your convenience you are given an option of dates and times via our booking system.
- The local authority delegate the chair of these meetings to the college EHCP coordinators.
- You’ll get updates from college and professionals before/during the meeting.
- You can share your views, ask questions, and suggest updates to the EHCP.
- The team decides whether to recommend to the local authority that the EHCP should stay the same, be updated, or ceased (e.g. if for example leaving college education).
- The local authority must review the plan and should send you their decision within 4 weeks of the meeting.
Our reviews are designed to be inclusive and supportive. While we do ask tutors and other staff working with the student to provide feedback, this is not a parents’ evening — it’s a collaborative conversation focused on understanding the young person’s needs and making reasonable adjustments to support their success at college.
FAQs
- Why Does It Happen Every Year? Under the SEN legal framework, it is a statutory requirement that Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) are reviewed at least annually to ensure they remain current and effective.
- Who’s Involved? You (the parent/carer/legal guardian) Your young person - We always encourage the young person to attend their review. If the young person is unable or reluctant to attend — which we understand, especially for those with anxiety — completing the feedback forms becomes even more important so their voice is still heard. College staff Other professionals (e.g. therapists, social workers) Local authorities also attend some reviews as required
- Why Is It Important? This is your opportunity to ensure your young person is receiving the right support and to raise any concerns.
- How do I know how to book an annual review meeting? When it’s time, both the student and their parent/carer will receive an email with a booking link. This link lets you choose from a range of available dates and times to make attending as easy as possible. If none of the available slots work for you, reply to the email or contact the EHCP Co-ordinator who sent it. We’re happy to be flexible around your schedule, where our working days allow.
- Need to reschedule or cancel? You may either contact us directly or use the booking link to select an alternative time. We appreciate that unforeseen circumstances can arise and strive to offer flexibility wherever possible.
- Do external professionals need to attend? If your young person is working with external professionals (e.g. Specialist Teaching Service, SALT), you can let us know via the booking link and we’ll do our best to invite them to the review or gather their input.
