An Education, Health and Care Plan must be reviewed at least yearly, with three- to six-monthly checks common before age five.
EHCP Review Basics
An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is not a “set and forget” document. The local authority must review the plan no less than once every 12 months so support keeps pace with current needs. In early years, reviews are usually more frequent because children change fast. An annual review is a full process, not only a meeting: evidence is gathered, the meeting is held, and the local authority then confirms whether it will maintain, amend, or cease the plan. The aim is simple—keep Section B needs accurate, keep Section F provision deliverable, and keep outcomes aligned with real-world progress.
EHCP Review Schedule At A Glance
| Scenario | Minimum Schedule | Extra Timing Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Standard EHCP (school or college) | At least every 12 months | LA must complete the full process, not just hold a meeting |
| Child under five | Every 3–6 months | Streamlined reviews allowed; pace set by the child’s needs |
| Phase transfer (eg, primary to secondary) | Annual review plus a phase-transfer review | Final plan naming the new setting by 15 Feb; post-16 by 31 Mar |
| Big change in needs or placement | Ask for an early review | Can happen any time within the year |
| Year 9 and above | Annual review | Reviews include preparing for adulthood themes |
You can read the statutory wording in the SEND Code of Practice. For plain-English help on rights and timelines, see the IPSEA annual review guide.
How Often Is An EHCP Reviewed In Practice?
Schools and colleges track progress during the year with termly checks and pupil reviews. That routine tracking does not replace the statutory annual review. The legal duty sits with the local authority to carry out a review at least once a year and complete the process, not just host a meeting. Before age five, many areas move to three- to six-monthly cycles so speech, motor, social, and health changes feed quickly into the plan. Therapists and specialist staff usually share updates that sit in the review pack so the meeting can test whether provision is working. If attendance is part-time, if there is a specialist unit, or if home-based provision is in place, the review still runs on the same statutory clock.
When To Ask For An Early Review
You do not have to wait for the anniversary if the plan no longer fits. Families and settings can ask the local authority for an early review when a trigger crops up. Common triggers include a placement breaking down, a marked jump in need, a new diagnosis with fresh therapy advice, exclusion risk, medical changes that affect access to learning, or persistent failure to deliver agreed provision. An early review can realign Section B descriptions and Section F provision so support on the ground matches daily reality. Where the change is more than a tweak, you can also request a full re-assessment of needs. That step can refresh reports, update outcomes, and point to a different placement if needed.
Phase Transfer Deadlines You Cannot Miss
Phase moves sit on firm statutory dates so transport, staffing, and therapies can be ready. For transfers into or between schools, the review and any amendments must be wrapped up by 15 February in the calendar year of the move. For moves from Year 11 into a post-16 setting or apprenticeship, the review and any amendments must be finished by 31 March. To make those dates, most settings hold the meeting early in the autumn term so there is time to consult schools or colleges and lock in provision. From Year 9 onward, reviews link choices to adulthood aims such as work, independent living, and participation, so the plan points cleanly into post-16 pathways.
What The Annual Review Must Cover
A strong review checks the whole plan, not just classroom targets. It looks at whether needs are described accurately, whether provision is being delivered as written, and whether outcomes are still right for the next 12 months. Health and social care input should be included, with reports shared in time for families to read. The meeting should test the evidence behind decisions, capture what is helping, and flag any missed provision so it can be fixed. New interim targets set a clear path into the next cycle. If the evidence shows the current placement no longer suits, the review can tee up a managed change with a realistic timeline.
What Happens After The Review Meeting
Paperwork continues after the room clears. Within two weeks of the meeting, the chair should send a written report to everyone invited. Within four weeks of the meeting, the local authority must write to say whether it will maintain, amend, or cease the plan. If it proposes amendments, it should begin the change process without delay and send a notice with the proposed wording. Families then comment on the draft, request a school or college, and add evidence. Once an amendment notice goes out, the final amended plan should follow within eight weeks. Taken together, that creates a clear path from meeting to final plan within a tight window.
Annual Review Timeline And Roles
| Step | Time Limit | Who Acts |
|---|---|---|
| Circulate reports and invite attendees | Before the meeting | Setting and LA |
| Hold the review meeting | By the plan’s anniversary or earlier | Setting, family, professionals |
| Issue meeting report to all parties | Within 2 weeks of meeting | Chair or setting |
| Notify decision: maintain, amend, or cease | Within 4 weeks of meeting | Local authority |
| Send amendment notice with proposed changes | At the 4-week point if amending | Local authority |
| Parent/young person comments on draft, names setting | Usually 15 days | Parent or young person |
| Issue final amended plan | Within 8 weeks of amendment notice | Local authority |
| Phase transfer final plan | By 15 Feb (schools) / 31 Mar (post-16) | Local authority |
How Schools And Colleges Keep Reviews On Track
Preparation sets the tone. Book the slot a term ahead so therapists and teachers can attend. Gather the latest reports early, check that Section F provision is still being delivered as written, and pull attendance, attainment, and behaviour data for the pack. Ask the young person how lessons feel and what changes would help. Where a device, transport plan, or personal care arrangement needs a change, write that need down so it can be reflected in the plan’s wording. On the day, start with what is working, move to barriers, then agree clear actions with owners and dates.
Tips For Parents And Carers
Keep a simple folder or cloud drive for the plan, reports, and emails. Add a running log of what helps, what does not, and any missed provision. Send your written view a week before the meeting and carry a printout on the day. Bring short notes on goals that matter to your child—communication, independence, self-care, or access to learning—so outcomes match real priorities. If you cannot attend in person, ask for an online slot or a new date rather than letting the review go ahead without your voice. After the meeting, watch for the decision letter at the four-week mark and respond quickly to any draft.
What If The Authority Does Not Stick To The Timetable?
Once four weeks have passed after the meeting, you should have a letter that sets out the decision. If an amendment notice arrives, the final plan should follow within eight weeks. If dates slip, send a short chaser to the case officer and copy the service team mailbox. Where the decision is to cease, or where you disagree with the contents after amendment, you can appeal to the SEND Tribunal. Many charities publish template letters and explain routes for advice. Staying calm, logging contact, and quoting the correct stage and date help nudge delayed reviews back on track.
Final Takeaways
Here is the pattern in plain terms. Minimum review: yearly. Under-fives: three to six months. Phase moves: 15 February for schools; 31 March for post-16. After each meeting the local authority has four weeks to confirm its decision, then a tightly managed amendment cycle that leads to a final plan. Use early reviews when needs change, keep evidence tidy, and make sure outcomes steer the next 12 months so support stays matched to real needs.