EHCP Annual Review: A Parent's Guide (England)

An EHCP must be reviewed at least once every 12 months. The review is usually a meeting at your child's school, where everyone looks at whether the plan still describes your child's needs and whether the support is working. Within 4 weeks of the meeting, the council must tell you whether it will keep the plan as it is, change it, or stop it.

The annual review is your main chance each year to update the plan. This guide covers the timeline, how to prepare, what to say in your parent views, and what happens afterwards. It covers England only.

Written by Laura Frampton, a UK-qualified teacher with over ten years' experience working with children and their families, including seven in a school SENCo team. As part of a school SENCo team, Laura sat in many of these meetings.

How often is an EHCP reviewed?

At least once every 12 months, counted from when the plan was issued or last reviewed. For children under 5, councils should consider reviewing every 3 to 6 months, because young children's needs change quickly.

You can also ask for an early review if something significant changes: a new diagnosis, a big change in behaviour or attendance, or the support in the plan clearly isn't working. Ask the school's SENCo and the council's SEN team in writing.

The annual review timeline

For a child in school, the law sets out these steps:

• At least 2 weeks before the meeting — you're invited, with at least 2 weeks' notice. Reports and advice from everyone involved must be sent out at least 2 weeks before the meeting.
• The meeting — usually at school, led by the head teacher or SENCo. You, the school, the council and relevant health and social care professionals are invited.
• Within 2 weeks of the meeting — a written report of the review is sent to everyone who was invited.
• Within 4 weeks of the meeting — the council tells you whether it will keep the plan unchanged, amend it, or stop maintaining it.
• If the plan is amended — you get a draft of the amended plan and at least 15 days to comment and to ask for a particular school.
• Within 8 weeks of the draft — the final amended plan is issued.

If you haven't received the reports 2 weeks before the meeting, ask the SENCo for them. You're entitled to read them in advance.

How to prepare

A little preparation makes the meeting far more useful. In the weeks before:

1. Reread the plan. Focus on section B (needs), section F (support) and section I (school). Ask yourself whether each still describes your child today.
2. Check the support was delivered. For each item in section F, ask the school what was provided, how often, and by whom. If something wasn't delivered, write it down.
3. Look at progress against the outcomes. Has your child moved towards the outcomes in the plan? If not, is it because the target was wrong or the support wasn't enough?
4. Gather new evidence. New reports, letters from professionals, attendance records, and your own dated notes.
5. Ask your child. What do they find hard? What helps? Who do they trust at school? Their views should be part of every review.
6. Write your parent views (see below) and send them to the SENCo before the meeting, so they go out with everyone else's advice.

Sending your views in advance matters. It gives the school and the council time to respond to your points in the meeting, rather than afterwards.

Writing your parent views

Your parent views are your written contribution to the review. Keep them to a page or two, and use headings so they're easy to refer to in the meeting:

• What's gone well this year: progress, strengths, things your child enjoys.
• What's been hard: at school and at home, with specific examples.
• What has and hasn't helped: which support made a difference, and which didn't happen or didn't work.
• What's changed: new diagnoses, health changes, family changes, new worries.
• What you'd like changed in the plan: be as specific as you can, and say which section.

Here's an example of the level of detail that works:

"Since January, Sam has refused to go into school on three or four mornings a week. He tells us lunchtimes are too loud and he has nowhere to go. Section F says he can use a quiet space 'when needed', but he says he doesn't know where it is or who to ask. We'd like section F to name the space, when he can use it, and the adult he should go to."

It describes what happens, links it to the plan, and asks for a specific change.

At the meeting

You can bring someone with you for support, such as a partner, friend or a SENDIASS adviser. Useful questions to ask:

• Was all the support in section F delivered? If not, why not?
• What progress has my child made towards each outcome, and how do you know?
• Does section B still describe my child's needs accurately?
• What will change in the plan, and who will make sure it happens?
• When will I get the report and the council's decision?

Take notes, or ask whoever is chairing to confirm what's been agreed before everyone leaves.

Reviews that lead to real change usually end with agreed actions written down: what will change, who is responsible, and by when.

Reviews when your child is changing school

If your child is moving between phases of education, the plan must be reviewed and amended to name the new school by a fixed deadline:

• 15 February in the year of the move, for most transfers, including primary to secondary school.
• 31 March in the year of the move, for the transfer from secondary school to a post-16 setting.

This review usually takes place in the autumn term of the year before the move, so start thinking about schools early.

After the review

Within 4 weeks of the meeting, the council must tell you one of three things:

• The plan stays the same. If you disagree, you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal. Your local SENDIASS service can explain how.
• The plan will be amended. You get a draft and at least 15 days to comment. Check that the changes agreed at the meeting actually appear, especially in section F. The final amended plan must be issued within 8 weeks of the draft.
• The council will stop maintaining the plan. You can appeal this decision. The plan stays in place while an appeal is under way.

The decision letter must explain your rights to appeal and to mediation.

Is the EHCP system changing?

The government published proposals for SEND reform in February 2026. Under the proposals, there would be no changes to support for existing EHCPs before September 2030, and any move to the new system would happen at transition points, such as the end of primary school. The proposals are still being consulted on.

For now, annual reviews work as described in this guide. We'll update it if the law changes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I ask for an EHCP review early?

Yes. If your child's needs or circumstances change significantly, ask the school and the council in writing for an early review.

Do I have to attend the annual review?

You should be invited, and your views are an important part of the review. If you can't attend, ask for a different date or send written views to be shared at the meeting.

Can my child attend?

Yes, and their views should be gathered either way. Some children join for part of the meeting, while others share their views beforehand in writing, pictures or a short conversation with a trusted adult.

What if the support in the plan isn't being delivered?

Raise it with the school first, then the council's SEN team in writing. The council is legally responsible for making sure the support in section F is provided. You don't have to wait for the annual review to raise it.

Next steps

• Use Liora to help you prepare for the meeting and draft your parent views. Free to try.
• Get our free UK school advocacy toolkit for what to ask for and how to ask.
• New to EHCPs? Start with our guide on how to apply for an EHCP.

This guide is general information about the law in England, not legal advice. For advice on your situation, contact your local SENDIASS service.