EHCP annual review checklist for schools

An EHCP annual review is a process, not just a meeting. The school usually coordinates the meeting and report, while the local authority remains responsible for reviewing the plan and deciding whether to maintain, amend or cease it.

Use this checklist for reviews in England.

Before the meeting

Start early enough to gather meaningful evidence. The plan must normally be reviewed at least every 12 months. Reviews for children under five may need to be more frequent.

Invite the required participants at least two weeks before the meeting. This normally includes:

• the parent or young person
• a school representative
• a local-authority SEN officer
• relevant health and social-care representatives
• other professionals whose advice is needed

Request written advice and circulate it to invitees at least two weeks before the meeting. Check local arrangements, but do not let a local template replace the statutory purpose.

Evidence checklist

Prepare evidence that answers four questions: what are the current needs, was provision delivered, what progress occurred, and what needs to change?

Include:

• child or young person's views and aspirations
• family views
• progress towards each Section E outcome
• Section F delivery records
• APDR reviews and current provision map
• attendance, attainment and participation information
• relevant professional advice
• preparation-for-adulthood evidence from Year 9
• proposed wording changes with reasons

Do not report intervention names alone. Record frequency, duration, attendance, response and review findings.

During the meeting

Work through the whole plan. For each identified need, check the outcome and provision connected to it.

Record:

• whether each section remains accurate
• whether specified provision was delivered
• progress and barriers
• recommended amendments
• placement and transition issues
• disagreements and supporting evidence
• named actions, owners and dates

The meeting does not itself amend the plan. The local authority must decide what happens next.

After the meeting

The school or setting should send the review report and recommendations to everyone invited within two weeks of the meeting. Keep proof of circulation.

The local authority should then notify the parent or young person within four weeks of the meeting whether it proposes to:

• maintain the plan without change
• amend the plan
• cease to maintain the plan

A decision not to amend, or to cease the plan, carries appeal rights. Record the letter date.

If the authority proposes amendments

The authority should issue an amendment notice with the proposed changes and supporting evidence. The parent or young person normally has at least 15 days to comment and request a placement. The final amended plan should then issue within the applicable statutory timetable.

For phase transfers, the special 15 February or 31 March deadline may apply.

Quality check

• Review scheduled within 12 months
• Invitees given at least two weeks' notice
• Advice requested and circulated
• Child and family views recorded
• Every outcome reviewed
• Section F delivery checked
• Preparation for adulthood covered from Year 9
• Proposed wording changes are specific
• Report issued within two weeks
• Local-authority four-week decision tracked

Unisen helps schools keep the review evidence, plan sections, actions and deadlines connected.

Explore the school workflow.