Annual Review of an Education Health and Care Plan

Once the annual review meeting has taken place, the educational setting has a clear responsibility to ensure the process moves forward promptly and in line with statutory requirements. 

Complete the record of Annual Review Meeting

The school must complete the Record of Annual Review Meeting form immediately after the meeting and this must be signed off by the Headteacher (or person in the educational establishment with overall responsibility for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), for example in a Post 16 setting this may be the High Needs Lead or equivalent).
This record should include:

• a summary of the main discussion points
• views expressed by parents, professionals, and the child or young person
• any requests made for the Local Authority to consider
• the recommended outcome (amend the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP,) cease the EHCP, or make no changes)
• references for proposed changes (for example professional reports and assessments)

Submit documentation to the Local Authority

The completed record and all supporting documents (including updated reports and advice) must be sent to the Local Authority within one week of the meeting to the annual review inbox at annualreview@stockton.gov.uk. This submission should include:

• the Record of Annual Review Meeting form
• the current EHCP with proposed changes (additions in bold, deletions in strikethrough)
• any additional evidence discussed during the meeting

Share with attendees

At the same time the paperwork is shared with the LA, the school must share a copy of the meeting record with:

• parents or carers, by way of their preferred contact method such as via email or in the post
• professionals who attended, were invited or contributed to the review

This ensures transparency and allows all parties to confirm that their views have been accurately captured.

Maintain confidentiality and accuracy

All records must be accurate, objective, and respectful of confidentiality.

The school should retain a copy for its own records in line with data protection requirements. Timely and accurate submission is essential because:

• within both 12 months of the last annual review and four weeks of the review meeting, the Local Authority has to issue its decision (maintain, amend, or cease the EHCP)
• delays in submission can result in missed statutory deadlines and impact the child's provision