EHCP and Annual Review process

What is an EHCP?

All children at Westfield have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This is the statutory document which describes a child or young person’s special educational needs, the support they need and how these needs should be met. Importantly it also describes the outcomes they would like to achieve. The EHCPs came out of the 2014 SEND reforms and include health and social care needs as well as educational needs.

An EHCP does not automatically continue throughout a child/young person’s time at school; it could cease if no longer appropriate.

It is important you are involved in reviewing your child’s EHCP to ensure they continue to get the support they need.

What is an EHCP Review?

All Local Authorities have a duty to review a child/young person’s ECHP every year. The annual review is the statutory process of looking at the needs, provision and outcomes specified in the EHC Plan and deciding whether these need to change. This is to ensure that the document is still relevant and details everything needed. It considers:

• Does the child/young person still need an EHCP?
• Does the provision meet the needs in education, health and social care ?
• The specialist equipment needed;
• The progress the child has made towards their outcomes;
• What the future needs of the child may be.

Additional reviews can be requested if needed.

How is the EHCP Annual Review carried out?

As the process is statutory the following steps must take place:

• The Local Authority  must consult with the parent of the child or young person (and with the school or institution being attended if there is one) about the EHC plan, and take account of their views, wishes and feelings.
• An annual review meeting must take place to discuss the EHC plan.
• Information must be gathered from parents and young people and from professionals about the EHC plan and then circulated two weeks before the meeting.
• After the meeting a report of what happened must be prepared and circulated to everyone who attended or submitted information to be discussed.
• After the meeting the LA reviews the EHC plan.
• The LA must notify the parent of the child or young person of their decision within four weeks of the meeting.

The review process has a number of stages:

• School sends out date of the Annual Review meeting
• School drafts paperwork and asks for contributions from parents/carers and other professionals involved e.g. therapist, social worker
• A draft review is sent out 2 weeks prior to meeting
• A meeting takes place as a Person Centered Review (PCR)
• An Action Plan is created as a result of the meeting
• Any amendments to the EHCP are noted
• Paperwork is checked by the Deputy Headteacher and signed by the Headteacher
• Final paperwork goes to parents, professionals and the Local Authority

For more information on this process, see our useful leaflet.