EHCP: Reviews
Annual Review Process
Your child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) will be reviewed every year. The annual review looks at:
- your child’s progress against the EHCP outcomes
- if the plan needs any updates
- what plans your child needs for the next stage of education, training or aspects of adulthood
- if the plan is still needed
The annual review should include involve you and your child in all stages. This includes the annual review meeting.
Annual reviews should take place within one year of the plan being first issued or last reviewed. However, a review can take place sooner if needed.
Annual reviews generally take place during the school year. They usually take place at your child's educational setting.
If your child is receiving education at home, the meeting can take place in the home or at an alternative venue. Your APO (Assessment and Planning Officer) will co-ordinate and conduct the review.
Before the Review Meeting
The school will invite you to the review. You can bring a friend, relative, or independent supporter to the meeting if you would like to. Where possible, the review process should involve your child. They should be encouraged to attend all or part of the meeting.
Other professionals involved in your child’s education should also receive an invitation.
The school will gather up-to-date information from all professionals involved with your child.
All up-to-date information will be sent to you and all the professionals involved in the review. This will be at least two weeks before the review meeting.
You and your child will also need to provide your views before the meeting. The school can help you with this if needed.
When providing your and your child’s views, you should consider:
- The progress the child has made
- The things your child is good at and likes to do
- The things your child finds difficult
- How your child’s needs may have changed
- What support your child needs at school and at home
- Any other information about your child that may be important
Amaze SENDIASS can help you prepare for your review meeting. You can find out more about SENDIASS by visiting the Amaze website:
At the Review Meeting
The educational settings' Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) will chair the review meeting.
You will be able to ask any questions you may have. You can also request any amendments you think the plan needs. This includes requesting a change of school.
After the Review Meeting
The school will write up the annual review report. This includes any proposed amendments or recommendations for the EHCP.
The school will send the annual review paperwork to us (the Local Authority) within 2 weeks of the meeting.
We will decide whether to update the plan, keep it as it is, or stop the plan.
We will tell you our decision within 2 weeks of receiving the paperwork from the school. You should know our decision no later than 4 weeks after the review.
If we are updating the plan, we will prepare a Proposed Amended EHCP and send it to you for comment.
You will have 15 calendar days to send us your comments on the Proposed Amended EHCP. We will also ask you for your school preference. You do not need to name a different school from your child’s current school.
You can also ask for a meeting with us during the 15 days. You can also ask for an Education Personal Budget.
We will consider your comments carefully and will send you an Amended Final EHCP. We will do this within 8 weeks of sending you the Proposed Amended EHCP.
If you don’t agree with us, you can consider Appeals and Mediation.
Additional Help and Support
Assessment & Planning Officer (APO)
Your APO will be able to support you with any concerns. The APO will contact you if there are any delays, or any information that you should know, as things arise.
Some of our APOs work part-time and may not be available immediately if you telephone or email them. However, if you leave a message, they will always respond to your contact as soon as they are able. You will find their direct telephone number on any of the letters you have received.
You can also contact the Assessment & Planning office by:
- Phone: 01273 336 740
- Email: sen.caseworkassistants@eastsussex.gov.uk
Amaze SENDIASS
Amaze SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) are a local charity. They offer free, independent, and impartial advice for all matters relating to SEND. Contact Amaze SENDIASS by:
- Phone - 01273 772 289
- Email - sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk
Visit the Amaze SENDIASS web page.
Amaze have also created an ‘EHC Plans Fact Sheet’:
Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST)
You have the right to appeal. You can appeal to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST). Appeal may be for the following reasons:
- if we decide not to carry out an EHC needs assessment
- if we decide not to progress to an EHCP
- if you are not happy with the final EHCP, including Health and Social Care sections.
We would hope to sort out any disagreements with you and your child’s educational setting first. Please contact your APO in the first instance. They will try and resolve any issues and address any of your concerns. You will find their direct telephone number on any of the letters you have received.
To find out more, please visit our page on EHCP: Appeals and Mediation.
East Sussex Local Offer directory of services
You can visit our SEND-specific online directory, hosted on East Sussex 1Space. The directory lists many different services both throughout the county and online. Services cover many topics, including:
- Advice, Guidance and Support Groups
- Activities and Events
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Visit the East Sussex Local Offer directory.
NHS - Health A to Z
The East Sussex Local Offer aims to provide as much information as possible. There may be some conditions that aren't covered in thorough detail. The NHS website has pages that list all conditions. These pages provide information and advice on how to get extra support:
Visit the NHS Health A to Z web page.
Glossary of East Sussex Send Terms
We explain some of the terms used on this website on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.