Annual reviews of EHC plans

Annual reviews help make sure that an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan still reflects a child or young person’s needs and the support they require.
The process involves parents, young people, education settings and the local authority.

On this page

• Information for parents and young people
• Information for education settings
• Related guidance and statutory information
• Downloads and forms

For parents and young people

What an annual review is

An annual review looks at the progress your child is making and checks whether the support in their EHC plan is still right. It is also a chance for you and your child to share what is going well and what could be improved.

Before the meeting

Your child’s school or setting will arrange the review and agree a date with you. They will gather updated reports from education, health and social care professionals. They will also ask you and your child for your views.

You should receive all paperwork at least two weeks before the meeting so you have time to look through it and prepare.

You can send in anything else you feel is helpful,  for example updated assessments or letters from professionals.

During the meeting

You will talk about your child’s progress, what is working well and anything that is not. The group will discuss whether the outcomes in the plan still make sense and whether any support needs to change. If your child is approaching a transition, such as moving school or preparing for adulthood, this will also be discussed.

Your views, and your child’s views, are an essential part of this conversation.

After the meeting

The school or setting must send all review paperwork to the local authority within two weeks.
Once we receive this, we will decide whether the plan:

• stays the same
• needs amendments
• or is no longer required

We will write to you with our decision within four weeks. If we issue an amended draft, you will have 15 days to comment.

Annual reviews at transition points

Some reviews take place earlier in the year to support key transitions, such as:

• starting school
• moving from primary to secondary
• planning for post‑16 education or training
• preparing for adulthood (usually from Year 9)

The school or setting will advise if this applies to you.

Support and advice

You can contact the SEND Team at senteameast@cheshireeast.gov.uk and impartial support from CEIAS (Cheshire East Information, Advice and Support)

For education settings

Your role in the annual review

Settings are responsible for organising and leading the annual review. This includes:

• agreeing a date with parents and young people
• gathering updated information from all relevant professionals
• requesting and recording the child’s views
• circulating paperwork at least two weeks before the meeting

The meeting should provide a clear picture of progress, identify where support is working well and highlight any areas that need to change. It should also look ahead to upcoming transitions and ensure future planning is in place.

After the meeting

Settings must send the completed review report and all supporting evidence to the local authority within two weeks of the meeting.

Paperwork should:

• summarise the discussion
• reflect the child’s and family’s views
• include recommended amendments
• include updated professional reports where available

What happens next

Once we receive the paperwork, we will consider the recommendations and decide whether the plan should:

• remain the same
• be amended
• be ceased

We will notify parents, young people and the setting within four weeks of receiving the review documentation.

Transition reviews

Make sure reviews for key transitions take place early enough to meet statutory requirements. This includes starting school, moving to secondary school, planning post‑16 options and preparing for adulthood.

Related guidance and statutory information

For parents and young people

• SEND Code of Practice – explains your rights and what you can expect from schools, the local authority and health services.
• Preparing for Adulthood guidance – what to expect from Year 9 onwards, including planning for independence, employment and further education.
• Cheshire East Local Offer – information about SEND services, support and processes in Cheshire East.
• CEIAS (Cheshire East Information, Advice and Support) Independent statutory advice for SEND families.

 

• NDTi – preparing for the future Guidance and tools to help young people think about their aspirations. These can support preparation for annual review discussions.

 

 

• IPSEA – independent SEND advice. Clear information about SEND law, annual reviews and the EHCP process.

 

For education settings

• SEND Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years (statutory guidance) – explains the legal duties for schools, settings, local authorities and health services when supporting children and young people with SEND.
• Graduated Approach (Assess–Plan–Do–Review) – guidance on supporting children at SEN Support and how this links to EHC plan reviews.
• Preparing for Adulthood statutory duties – expectations for reviews from Year 9 onwards.

Downloads and forms

For parents and young people

• Parent or Carer Annual Review Advice Form (MS Word, 57KB) - Use this form to share any updates about your child, including changes to their needs or anything you want discussed at the review meeting. Send it to the school, setting or local authority three weeks before the meeting.
•  Frequently asked questions document for Annual Reviews (PDF, 180KB) – helpful background explaining the process.

Young person’s voice – choose the format that suits your child

Normal print versions of the young persons voice forms

Symbols or visual support:

• Voice 1 – Symbols (MS Word, 443KB)
• Voice 2 – Short questions with picture prompts (MS Word, 174KB) 

More details responses:

• Voice 3 – Open questions and number scales (MS Word, 343KB)
• Voice 4 – Open questions and matrix Scales (suitable for older children and young people) (MS Word, 82KB)

When the child cannot respond directly

• Voice 5 – Observation and recording (for adults to use when children/young people are unable to respond directly) (MS Word, 48KB)

Support material

• Helpful hints for children and young people completing CYP voice forms 3 and 4 (PDF, 199KB)

Large print print versions of the young persons voice forms

• Voice 1 – Complex needs symbols (MS Word, 445KB)
•  Voice 2 – Short questions with picture prompts (MS Word, 175KB)
  
• Voice 3 – Open questions and number scales (MS Word, 316KB)
• Voice 4 – Open questions and matrix Scales (suitable for older children and young people) (MS Word, 50KB)
• Helpful hints for children and young people completing CYP voice forms 3 and 4 (MS Word, 18KB)

Transition planning

• Preparation for Adulthood Transition Plan for completion with Young People from year 9 onwards (MS Word, 58KB). 

For Education settings

Running the annual review

• One Minute Guide for Schools/Settings holding Annual Review Meetings (PDF, 307KB)

• Cheshire East Suggested Standard Annual Review Meeting Agenda (PDF, 182KB)

Submitting the review

• Post review form for schools and settings holding Annual Review Meetings (MS Word, 316KB) -for settings without Liquidlogic access.
•  Guidance on how to complete the Cheshire East EHCP Annual Review Paperwork (PDF, 284KB) - how to complete the submission correctly. 

Transition‑specific documents

Secondary Transfer Process (Excel) – primary → secondary workflow.

• Process for Children and Young People moving into Cheshire East from another Local Authority (PDF, 216KB)

Transition year group deadlines

Schools and educational settings should follow the process and timescales set out above, unless the child/young person is in a transition year group. In this case, timescales need to be amended in order to ensure the following dates are met for issuing a Final EHC Plan naming the child/young person’s next educational setting for the following academic year.

These deadline dates only apply to children and young people who already have an agreed EHC Plan. These dates do not apply for EHC needs assessments where the due date for the first EHC Plan is after the above dates.

The Designated Clinical Officer (DCO) SEND

The Designated Clinical Officer for NHS Cheshire East Place is Ingrid Bell. If you would like help and support on a SEND health matter, email ingrid.bell@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk or call 07765 156692.

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