Annual Reviews: How to Make Sure Your Child’s EHCP Stays Relevant
Securing an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) can feel like a huge victory, a recognition that your child’s needs matter and that support must be put in place. But the plan is only as strong as its ability to keep up with your child’s changing needs. That’s why the law requires every EHCP to be reviewed at least once a year through the Annual Review process.
Handled well, the Annual Review is a powerful safeguard that can keep provision on track. Handled poorly, it can become a tick-box exercise that leaves children without the support they need.
What is an Annual Review?
An Annual Review is a formal meeting organised by the school or setting, attended by you, your child, key professionals, and usually a representative from the Local Authority (LA).
The aims of the review are to:
Look at your child’s progress against the outcomes written in the EHCP
Check whether the current provision is actually meeting your child’s needs
Agree whether any changes to outcomes or provision are needed
Decide whether the EHCP should be maintained, amended, or (in rare cases) ceased
Why Annual Reviews Matter
Children’s needs change quickly. Anxiety can rise, new diagnoses may be made, or school transitions may mean a very different environment. An outdated EHCP can become meaningless, leaving your child struggling.
The Annual Review is also one of the few points in the process where parents can formally hold schools and the LA accountable. If therapies are missing, hours of support aren’t being delivered, or provision is too vague, the review is the place to raise it.
Preparing for an Annual Review
1. Gather Your Evidence
School reports, attendance data, and progress information
Professional assessments (e.g. EP, SALT, CAMHS, medical letters)
Your own diary or log of challenges and successes
The more evidence you bring, the harder it is for concerns to be dismissed.
2. Capture Your Child’s Voice
The SEND Code of Practice is clear: your child’s views must be considered. This could be:
A drawing, mind map, or video message
A written statement in their own words
Or simply talking through what’s working and what isn’t
3. Compare Outcomes to Progress
Go through each outcome in Section E of the EHCP. Has progress been made? If not, is the provision in Section F sufficient? If the outcome is no longer relevant, propose a new one.
4. Flag Changes in Circumstances
New diagnoses, health conditions, or behaviour patterns
Increased anxiety, school refusal, or attendance issues
Moving to secondary school, college, or post-16 transition
Annual Reviews are your chance to adapt the EHCP to fit reality.
During the Meeting
Stay calm, keep your focus on your child’s needs
Ask for specific actions (“3 hours weekly 1:1 support”) rather than vague promises (“access to support”)
If important reports are missing, ask for the review to be reconvened
Take someone with you, an advocate, friend, or partner, for support and note-taking
After the Meeting
The process doesn’t end when the meeting finishes:
The school must send the review paperwork to the LA within 2 weeks
The LA then has 4 weeks to issue a decision: maintain, amend, or cease the EHCP
If amended, you’ll receive a draft plan to review and comment on, just like when the original EHCP was issued
Final Thoughts
An EHCP is not a one-off solution. It should grow and adapt with your child. The Annual Review is your safeguard to make sure the plan remains relevant, effective, and enforceable.
With preparation, clear evidence, and a focus on outcomes, you can use the Annual Review to keep your child’s education on track, and ensure their voice and needs remain at the heart of the plan.
