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EHCP Annual Review Explained_compressed

Last reviewed: March 2026

Written by: School of Diversity SEND Support Team

Topic: Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)

This guide is designed to help parents understand the EHCP process in England and is regularly updated to reflect SEND guidance and procedures.

 

EHCP Annual Review Explained: A Parent’s Guide

An EHCP annual review is a meeting held at least once a year to review a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan and check whether the support in the plan is still appropriate. During the review, parents, school staff, and professionals discuss the child’s progress and whether any changes to the plan are needed. The local authority must then decide whether to keep the EHCP the same, amend it, or cease the plan.

Key Takeaways

  • An EHCP annual review is a meeting held at least once a year to review a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan.

  • The review checks whether the child’s needs, support, and outcomes in the plan are still appropriate.

  • Parents, school staff, and professionals may contribute information about the child’s progress and current needs.

  • After the review, the local authority must decide whether to keep the plan the same, amend it, or cease the EHCP.

  • Annual reviews help ensure the EHCP continues to reflect the child’s changing needs and support requirements.

An EHCP annual review is meant to make sure your child’s plan still reflects their needs and is actually working.
In reality, many parents feel unsure about what should happen, what their rights are, and what to do if nothing changes.

This guide explains EHCP annual reviews in plain English, including what they are, how they work, and what parents can do if the process does not feel meaningful.

What is an EHCP annual review?

An EHCP annual review is a formal review of your child’s Education, Health and Care Plan. It looks at:

  • Your child’s needs

  • The support currently in place

  • Progress since the last review

  • Whether changes are needed

Annual reviews are a legal requirement, not optional.

When should an EHCP annual review happen?

An annual review should take place:

  • At least once every 12 months

  • More often for children under 5 (usually every 6 months)

The school or setting usually organises the meeting, but the local authority remains responsible for the EHCP.

What is the purpose of an EHCP annual review?

The purpose is to decide whether the EHCP should:

  • Stay the same

  • Be amended (changed)

  • Be ceased

The review should focus on whether the plan still meets your child’s needs — not on convenience or resources.

What happens before an EHCP annual review?

Before the meeting:

  • Reports should be gathered (school, professionals, parents)

  • Parents should be invited to submit their views

  • The review paperwork should be shared in advance

Parents should have time to read and reflect — not be surprised on the day.

What happens at the EHCP annual review meeting?

At the meeting, discussion should cover:

  • How your child is doing emotionally and academically

  • Whether outcomes are being met

  • What support is working (or not)

  • Any changes needed to Sections B, F, or I

Parents should feel able to:

  • Ask questions

  • Raise concerns

  • Request changes

This is not just a formality.

What happens after an EHCP annual review?

After the meeting:

  • The school sends a report to the local authority

  • The local authority must decide whether to:

    • Keep the EHCP the same

    • Amend the EHCP

    • Cease the EHCP

The local authority should notify parents of its decision, usually within 4 weeks.

Can parents ask for changes at an annual review?

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Parents can request:

  • Changes to needs (Section B)

  • Changes to provision (Section F)

  • Changes to placement (Section I)

  • Updated outcomes (Section E)

If the EHCP is amended, parents must be sent a draft and given the chance to comment.

What if nothing changes after the annual review?

This is a common concern.

If:

  • Issues were raised but ignored

  • Support is still not working

  • The EHCP does not reflect current needs

Parents can:

  • Follow up in writing

  • Request amendments

  • Use mediation or appeal rights (once a decision is issued)

An annual review should lead to meaningful consideration, not silence.

Can parents request an early annual review?

Yes.

Parents can request an early review if:

  • Needs have changed significantly

  • Support is not working

  • There is a change in placement

  • Your child is in distress or burnout

Early reviews are allowed — especially when circumstances change.

Common problems parents experience with annual reviews

  • Reviews feeling rushed or procedural

  • Vague language being carried over

  • Section F not being updated

  • Decisions delayed or not communicated

  • Parents feeling unheard

These issues are about process, not parenting.

You are allowed to ask questions and challenge decisions

Annual reviews are part of your child’s legal support framework.
Asking for clarity or change is not being difficult — it is part of the process.

At School of Diversity, we support parents to understand reviews, rights, and next steps in a way that feels manageable and informed.

EHCP Annual Review – Parent FAQs

What is an EHCP annual review?

It is a legally required review of your child’s EHCP to check whether the plan is still appropriate and meeting their needs.

At least once every 12 months, and more frequently for children under 5.

Yes. Parents can request changes to needs, provision, outcomes, or placement.

Parents can follow up in writing and may have appeal rights once the local authority issues a decision.

Yes. Parents can request an early review if needs change or support is not working.

No. It is a legal process that should involve meaningful consideration of your child’s needs.

Explore more EHCP guidance

EHCP annual reviews are an important opportunity to check whether your child’s plan still reflects their needs and the support they require. If you would like a broader overview of the process, you can explore our complete EHCP guide for parents, where all of our EHCP resources are brought together in one place. When reviewing a plan, it can also help to understand EHCP sections explained (A–K) so you know what each part of the document should include. Many parents also find it useful to work through an EHCP checklist for parents when preparing for a review meeting. If you are reviewing the support written in the plan, our Section F wording examples show how provision should be written clearly and specifically.