Quick answer
An EHC plan must be reviewed at least annually. After the review meeting, the local authority must tell you within four weeks whether it will keep, amend or stop maintaining the plan. If you disagree with that decision, you can challenge it: consider mediation, then appeal to the SEND Tribunal within the stated deadline. eLitigant can help draft your papers.
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① Draft it from scratch
Chris drafts your parent views, Working Document amendments or representations from your facts and reports.
② Check the draft you’ve written
Upload your own parent views or proposed amendments — Chris reviews them against the statutory steps.
③ You’ve had the LA decision — respond
Run the local authority’s amend / maintain / cease decision by Chris and see where you stand.
Annual reviews are where Education, Health and Care Plans either evolve with the child or slowly erode into generic boilerplate. Know the regulations, hold the LA to the statutory steps, and the review becomes the moment to strengthen provision, not dilute it.
The statutory sequence
- LA convenes the review meeting within 12 months of last review/finalisation
- Reports circulated 2 weeks before
- Parent / young person invited with 2 weeks’ notice
- Meeting considers progress, current needs, any amendments required
- Head teacher submits report within 2 weeks of meeting
- LA decides within 4 weeks of meeting: amend, maintain, or cease
- If amending — proposed amendments sent with 15-day window for representations
- Final amended plan within 8 weeks of proposal
What parents should do
Before the meeting
- Request written views template from school — complete with specific concerns and desired outcomes
- Gather current professional reports — SaLT, OT, EP, CAMHS if relevant
- Review the existing Plan — identify sections needing updating
- Request attendees list
At the meeting
- Bring your parent views document
- Ensure each section is discussed
- Propose specific amendments to Sections B, F, I with evidence
- Ask for decisions to be minuted
After the meeting
- Receive LA decision within 4 weeks
- If amendments proposed — Working Document with your further amendments within 15 days
- If no amendments or amendments insufficient — appeal route opens
Let Chris draft this for you
Upload the decision, medical evidence, reports, correspondence. Chris drafts with statutory citations and the dignity the subject deserves — to the standard the Tribunal or Adjudicator expects.
Common LA failures
- Meeting not convened within 12 months
- Reports not circulated in advance
- No decision within 4 weeks
- Refusal to amend despite evident need changes
- Amendment process dragged beyond 8 weeks
- Phase transfer plan not finalised by 15 February
Remedies
- SEND Tribunal appeal against refusal to amend
- LGSCO complaint for procedural failures and compensation
- Judicial review for systemic delays affecting the child
What Chris drafts
- Parent views and request document for annual review
- Working Document with tracked proposed amendments
- Representations during 15-day window
- Appeal to Tribunal if the outcome is unsatisfactory
- LGSCO complaint on procedural failings
Chris can support the whole review cycle including any appeal.
Prepare to win. Plan not to fail.
Annual reviews are leverage. Drafted well, the Plan improves year on year.
Frequently asked questions
How often must a local authority review an EHC Plan?
The local authority must convene a review meeting within 12 months of the last review or of the Plan being finalised. Reports should be circulated about two weeks before the meeting, and the parent or young person invited with two weeks’ notice.
What happens after the annual review meeting?
The head teacher submits a report within two weeks of the meeting, and the local authority decides within four weeks whether to amend, maintain or cease the Plan. If it is amending, proposed amendments are sent with a window for representations, and the final amended Plan should follow within the statutory timeframe.
Which parts of the Plan should I focus on amending?
Bring your parent views document and propose specific amendments to Sections B, F and I, backed by current professional reports — such as SaLT, OT, EP or CAMHS where relevant. Ask for each section to be discussed and for decisions to be minuted.
What can I do if the LA refuses to amend or misses the deadlines?
If amendments are refused or insufficient, the appeal route opens. Remedies include a SEND Tribunal appeal against a refusal to amend, an LGSCO complaint for procedural failures and compensation, and judicial review for systemic delays affecting the child.
What are the common local authority failures at annual review?
Typical failures include the meeting not being convened within 12 months, reports not circulated in advance, no decision within four weeks, refusal to amend despite evident need, the amendment process dragging beyond the statutory window, and a phase-transfer plan not being finalised on time.
What does Chris draft for an annual review?
Chris drafts the parent views and request document, a Working Document with tracked proposed amendments, representations during the response window, an appeal to the Tribunal if the outcome is unsatisfactory, and an LGSCO complaint on procedural failings — all with statutory citations.
Make the annual review work for your child
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