Annual EHCP Reviews: How to Prepare and What to Expect

You fought hard for your child’s EHCP. The relief when it was finally issued was immense. But here’s what many parents don’t realize: securing the EHCP was just the beginning. The annual review is where you ensure the plan continues to meet your child’s evolving needs—and where you can push for amendments if it doesn’t.

Annual reviews are mandatory and represent your most important opportunity each year to assess what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change. Yet many parents approach them unprepared, miss opportunities to request crucial amendments, or allow schools to present reviews as a formality rather than a meaningful evaluation.

This guide will show you exactly how to prepare for your child’s annual review, what to expect during the process, and how to secure the amendments your child needs.

Understanding the Purpose of Annual Reviews

The annual review is a legal requirement. Every child with an EHCP must have their plan reviewed at least once every 12 months (and at key transition points like moving from primary to secondary school or moving into post-16 education).

The Annual Review Must Consider

• Progress toward outcomes: Has your child made expected progress on the outcomes specified in the EHCP?
• Effectiveness of provision: Is the specified provision in Section F being delivered? Is it working?
• Continued appropriateness: Does the EHCP still accurately describe your child’s needs, or have they changed?
• Need for amendments: Does any part of the EHCP need updating to remain relevant and effective?
• Preparation for next phase: What needs to happen to prepare for transitions (new year group, new school, post-16, adulthood)?

The annual review is not simply a “tick box” exercise. It’s an opportunity to evaluate everything about your child’s educational provision and to push for changes where needed.

The Annual Review Timeline and Process

Understanding the timeline is crucial because there are specific points where you need to engage, and specific deadlines the school and local authority must meet.

Annual Review Timeline

• At least 2 weeks before the meeting: The school must send you and the LA all the reports and evidence they’ve gathered for the review, including school reports, therapist reports, and any other professional input.
• Before the meeting: You should submit your parent contribution/views (ideally at least a week before so everyone can read it).
• The annual review meeting: All relevant people meet to discuss progress, provision, and whether amendments are needed. This can be in person or virtual.
• Within 2 weeks of the meeting: The school must send the LA their recommendations from the review, along with all the evidence and reports.
• Within 4 weeks of receiving the recommendations: The LA must decide whether to maintain the EHCP as it is, amend it, or (in rare cases) cease to maintain it.

Important: If the LA decides to amend the EHCP, they must follow the same process as when issuing a draft plan—sending you a draft of proposed amendments and giving you 15 days to comment.

Preparing for the Annual Review: The 8-Week Countdown

Effective annual reviews require preparation. Don’t wait until you receive the meeting invite to start thinking about what you want to say. Here’s how to prepare systematically:

8 Weeks Before: Start Gathering Evidence

• Review your child’s current EHCP in detail—reread every section
• List all the outcomes specified in the plan
• List all the provision specified in Section F
• Begin tracking what provision is actually being delivered (or not delivered)
• Start documenting progress, challenges, and any new needs that have emerged

6 Weeks Before: Assess Progress and Provision

• For each outcome: Has your child made progress? Is the outcome still appropriate or does it need updating?
• For each provision in Section F: Is it being delivered as specified? Is it effective? Does it need increasing, changing, or supplementing?
• Gather evidence: tracking data, work samples, communication with school, incidents, progress (or lack of progress)
• Identify any gaps: What isn’t in the EHCP but should be? Have new needs emerged?

4 Weeks Before: Request Additional Assessments if Needed

If you believe your child needs updated professional assessments (EP, SALT, OT, etc.) to support amendments to the EHCP, request these now. Ideally, they should be completed before the review meeting so the evidence is available.

2-3 Weeks Before: Write Your Parent Contribution

Your parent contribution is critical. This is your opportunity to present your evidence and make your case for any amendments you want.

What Your Parent Contribution Should Include:

• Progress summary: Your perspective on progress toward each outcome
• Provision analysis: What’s working, what isn’t, what’s not being delivered
• Home and community perspective: How your child is managing outside school (this is often very different from school reports)
• Changes in needs: Any new needs or challenges that have emerged
• Proposed amendments: Be specific about what you want changed and why
• Evidence: Attach tracking data, photos, communications, examples that support your points
• Aspirations: Your hopes and goals for your child’s next year

The Annual Review Meeting: What to Expect

The meeting itself can vary significantly in format depending on the school, but certain elements should always be present.

Who Should Attend?

Essential Attendees:

• You (the parent/carer): Your presence is absolutely essential
• School SENCO: Coordinates the review and usually chairs the meeting
• Class teacher: Provides day-to-day perspective
• LA representative: Should attend but often don’t—this is increasingly common and problematic
• Your child (where appropriate): Children should be involved in a developmentally appropriate way

Additional Attendees (as relevant):

• Teaching assistants who work directly with your child
• Therapists (SALT, OT) involved in delivering provision
• Educational psychologist
• Social worker if involved
• Health professionals
• Any advocate or supporter you bring

You have the right to bring someone with you for support. This could be a friend, family member, independent supporter, or professional advocate.

Meeting Structure

Typical Meeting Agenda:

1. Introductions: Who everyone is and their role
2. Review of current EHCP sections: Going through each section and discussing whether it’s still accurate
3. Progress toward outcomes: Evaluating progress on each outcome
4. Review of provision: Discussing whether specified provision in Section F is being delivered and is effective
5. Health and social care needs: Updating Sections H, I, J if relevant
6. Parent and young person views: Your opportunity to present your contribution and views
7. Discussion of any proposed amendments: What changes are needed and why
8. Recommendations: Agreement on what recommendations will be sent to the LA
9. Plans for the coming year: What will happen next

How to Advocate Effectively During the Meeting

Annual reviews can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re outnumbered by professionals. Here’s how to ensure your voice is heard and your requests are taken seriously:

Effective Advocacy Strategies:

• Bring written notes: Don’t rely on memory. Have your key points written down with supporting evidence references.
• Be specific: Don’t say “he needs more support.” Say “Section F specifies 10 hours of TA support per week. He’s currently receiving 6 hours. This provision must be delivered as specified.”
• Use data: “Over the past term, he’s had 23 significant dysregulation episodes, resulting in 12 hours of missed learning time. The current sensory breaks are insufficient.”
• Challenge vague responses: If school says “we’re doing what we can,” push back: “The EHCP is a legal document. The provision must be delivered as specified, regardless of resource challenges.”
• Request specific amendments in the meeting: Make sure your proposed amendments are recorded in the meeting notes.
• Don’t be pressured into agreement: If you disagree with the school’s recommendations, say so clearly. The meeting notes should reflect disagreement.
• Take your own notes: Don’t rely solely on the school’s minutes—they may not capture everything.

Common Annual Review Issues and How to Handle Them

Issue 1: Provision Not Being Delivered

One of the most common issues is that provision specified in Section F is not being delivered in full. Schools may say they’re doing what they can with available resources, but this is not acceptable—the EHCP is legally binding.

How to Address This:

• Document exactly what’s specified vs what’s being delivered
• Present this evidence clearly in your parent contribution and in the meeting
• Request that the meeting notes record the failure to deliver provision
• Ask for a clear plan with timescales for how provision will be fully implemented
• If provision cannot be delivered, request an immediate interim review to amend the EHCP to reflect what can realistically be provided (though you may disagree with reductions)
• Consider formal complaint if non-delivery continues

Issue 2: School Resisting Amendments

Schools may resist proposed amendments, particularly if they increase provision or require additional resources. Remember: the school makes recommendations to the LA, but the LA makes the final decision.

How to Address This:

• Ensure your proposed amendments are recorded in the meeting notes even if the school disagrees
• Submit your own recommendations directly to the LA (you can do this separately from the school’s recommendations)
• Provide evidence supporting why amendments are necessary
• If the LA refuses amendments you believe are necessary, you have the right to appeal to tribunal

Issue 3: LA Not Attending

Increasingly, LAs don’t send a representative to annual reviews, claiming resource constraints. This is problematic because it means the LA officer making decisions about amendments hasn’t heard the discussions or your contributions directly.

How to Address This:

• Request LA attendance in advance of the meeting
• If they don’t attend, ensure comprehensive meeting notes are taken
• Submit your parent contribution directly to the LA as well as to the school
• Follow up with the LA after the meeting to ensure they’ve received all documentation

After the Meeting: Ensuring Recommendations Are Implemented

The annual review meeting is not the end of the process. What happens after the meeting is equally important.

Immediate Actions After the Meeting

• Request a copy of the meeting notes within 1 week: Review them carefully and request corrections if they’re inaccurate or incomplete
• Check that your proposed amendments are included: If they’re not, write to the school and LA to ensure they’re added
• Confirm the school has sent recommendations to the LA within 2 weeks: If they haven’t, chase them
• Wait for LA decision (should be within 4 weeks of them receiving recommendations): If you don’t hear within 4 weeks, chase the LA
• Review any proposed amendments carefully: If the LA sends draft amendments, you have 15 days to comment—use this time

When to Request an Interim Review

You don’t have to wait for the annual review if your child’s needs have changed significantly or if provision is not working. You can request an interim review at any time.

Request an Interim Review When:

• Your child receives a new diagnosis that significantly affects their needs
• There’s a significant change in circumstances (e.g., breakdown in placement, exclusions, mental health crisis)
• Provision is consistently not being delivered as specified
• Your child is not making expected progress and changes are urgently needed
• You’re approaching a key transition and the EHCP needs updating in preparation

Transition Annual Reviews: Extra Importance

Annual reviews at key transition points (particularly Year 5/6 for secondary transfer, and Year 9 for post-16 planning) are especially important and have additional requirements.

Year 9 and Beyond: Preparing for Adulthood

From Year 9 Onwards, Annual Reviews Must Include:

• A focus on preparing for adulthood outcomes (employment, independent living, community participation, health)
• Discussion of post-16 options and aspirations
• Involvement of relevant post-16 services and professionals
• Plans for developing independence skills and self-advocacy
• Consideration of whether the young person wants to transfer rights at age 16

If the LA Decides Not to Amend

If the LA decides to maintain the EHCP without amendments and you disagree, you have rights:

Your Options:

• Mediation: You can request mediation (though this is optional)
• Appeal to Tribunal: You have the right to appeal decisions not to amend the EHCP. You have 2 months from the decision to register your appeal
• Formal complaint: If the process hasn’t been followed correctly or deadlines have been missed
• Request another review: If circumstances change or new evidence emerges

Final Thoughts: Making Annual Reviews Work for Your Child

Annual reviews are not formalities—they’re powerful opportunities to evaluate and improve your child’s educational provision. The difference between a perfunctory annual review and an effective one often comes down to preparation.

Parents who track progress throughout the year, gather concrete evidence, write detailed contributions, and advocate assertively in meetings are far more likely to secure the amendments their children need.

Don’t let another year pass with inadequate provision or outdated outcomes. Use the annual review process to ensure your child’s EHCP continues to be the powerful tool it should be—securing them the support they need to thrive.

Related Resources

• EHCP Application Guide: Complete UK Process
• Section F vs Section H: Understanding EHCP Provision Sections
• Working with Your Local Authority: Building an EHCP Partnership
• EHCP Appeals: Your Complete UK Rights and Timeline Guide