Annual reviews

Solihull EHC Plan annual review process

Reviews of children and young peoples EHC plans must take place within:

• 6 months of the last annual review for children under 5
• 12 months of the last annual review for children and young people over 5
• the autumn term for children and young people in transition years (nursery 2, year 2 if attending and infant school, year 6, year 11, or any post-16 or further education year where required)

1. EHCP team: Send a termly reminder to school with list of annual reviews due the next term (this includes all children and young people on roll).

2. School / education provision: Review reports available and arrange for updates from specialists where these are necessary (at least 2-3 months in advance of annual review due date). This includes educational, health and social care as required.

3. School / education provision: Arrange the annual review dates with the family, health care professionals, social care and other professionals involved and notify the EHCP team of the date (at least 2 weeks before the annual review date). It is recommended that this is done at least 6-8 weeks before the review. 

4. School / education provision: All new reports are collated and circulated to all those invited prior to the annual review meeting and formal invitations to the annual review meeting are issued (at least 2 weeks before the meeting).

• If there has been a significant change in the provision required for a child or young person, an early annual review could be considered. The family, professionals and the EHCP team must still be given at least 2 weeks notice and receive the annual review documents at least 2 weeks before the date of the review.

5. School / education provision: The annual review meeting is held which the child or young person must attend. A date will be scheduled for the next annual review.

6. School / education provision: Annual review paperwork submitted to the EHCP team and sent to all those invited to attend the annual review meeting. The paperwork must be sent within 2 weeks of the meeting.

7. EHCP team: The EHCP team consider the submitted annual review paperwork and make a decision on whether to amend the EHC plan, keep the EHC plan as it is (maintain), or cease. Parents and carers are informed of this decision in writing within 4 weeks of the date of the annual review.

8. Parents and young person: If the EHCP team have issued a proposal to cease letter parents and young people have 15 days to submit their response to the EHCP team. 

9. EHCP team: If the plan is going to be amended a notice of amends EHCP will be issued to parents and young people within 4 weeks of the date of the annual review.

10. Parents and young person: The parents and young person have 15 working days to consider the notice of amends EHCP and submit their response to the EHCP team.

11. EHCP team: Final amendments to the EHC plan are considered and the final amended EHCP is issued within 8 weeks of sending out the notice of amends EHCP.

If a parent or young person is not in agreement with:

• the decision to cease the EHCP
• the decision to maintain the EHCP
• the content of sections B, F, or I (please note if sections B or F are challenged, sections C, D, G, and H could also be challenged)

they can challenge this through either mediation or appeal via the SEND tribunal service. Parents must contact a mediation advisor to discuss whether mediation may be a suitable way of resolving the disagreement before registering an appeal with the tribunal. Details of mediation companies are included on the letter issued to parents with the final EHCP.

More information on the single route of redress.