The Annual Review
Other Annual Reviews
Read more about the other types of Annual Reviews:
- Transfers between phases of education
- Children aged 0 to 5
- Reviews for children educated at home
- Reviews for children educated out of area
- Reviews for children – Special Educational Needs and social care needs including children in need
- Annual Reviews – Custody
Transfers between phases of education
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) must be reviewed and amended in sufficient time prior to a child or young person moving between key phases of education, to allow for planning, and where necessary, commissioning support and provision at the new institution.
All reviews for this group must have been held, the plans amended, consultations completed and plans finalised by the 15 of February. For phase transfers to post-16 institutions the statutory deadline is 31 March so notifications will be sent from the Special Educational Needs (SEN) team to all schools or settings that reviews for this group should, where possible, be held in the autumn term (no later than the second week of January for schools, and no later than end of February for post-16 placements).
After the meeting the Special Educational Needs Designated Officer (SENDO) will complete the proposed amendments and issues a draft plan to the family and the school or setting as well as to the school/setting of the family’s preference.
The chosen school, setting or institution have 15 working days to respond to the consultation with the SENDO contacting the family to notify them when the consultation response has been received.
Consultation responses will be considered at admissions allocation panel in January with families notified following this meeting.
Children aged 0 to 5
Local Authority's should consider reviewing every 3 to 6 months to ensure provision remains appropriate.
More frequent reviews may not need to involve all professionals every time depending on the child’s needs.
For children transferring from early years settings into schools, reviews and amendments must be completed by 15 February in the calendar year of the transfer at the latest.
The child’s parent must be fully consulted on any proposed changes and made aware of their right to appeal to the tribunal.
Reviews for children educated at home
The child’s parent or young person, a SENDO, a health service representative and a Local Authority social care representative must be invited to the review and given at least 2 weeks’ notice of the date of the meeting.
The Local Authority is responsible for arranging the annual review. The child’s parent or young person, a Local Authority SEN officer, a health service representative and a Local Authority social care representative must be invited to the review and given at least 2 weeks’ notice of the meeting date. Other relevant individuals should also be invited for example, Specialist Leaning and Employment Adviser Team (SLEAT) and any other person whose attendance the Local Authority considers appropriate.
The review must focus on outcomes and any changes needed to either the support or the outcomes themselves.
Children, young people and parent carers should be supported to engage fully in the review meeting.
Reviews for children educated out of area
Where a child or young person being educated out of area has an EHCP, the home Local Authority must ensure that the special educational provision set out in the plan is being made. They must review the EHCP annually.
Reviews for children – Special Educational Needs and social care needs including children in need
Ensure that the EHCP Annual Review coincides with one of the Care Plan reviews for example, Personal Education Plan (PEP) which feeds into review of the wider Care Plan.
Work closely with social workers to ensure that transitions from being looked after to returning home are managed effectively. Consider if it is appropriate for a long-term carer to take on the responsibility for managing a personal budget.
Annual Reviews – Custody
A Local Authority cannot cease an EHCP because a young person has been given a custodial sentence.
If a detained young person has an EHCP before being detained, the home Local Authority must arrange appropriate SEN provision while she or he is detained.
Consider if it's appropriate for a long term carer to take on the responsibility for managing a personal budget.
If a Health Care plan for a detained young person specifies health care provision the health services commissioner for the custodial establishment must arrange appropriate health care.