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Oak Tree School

ANNUAL REVIEWS

What is an Annual Review?

The annual review is the statutory process of looking at the needs, provision and outcomes specified in an EHC plan, and deciding whether these need to change.

Your local authority (LA) must complete the first review of your child’s EHC plan within 12 months of the EHC plan being finalised. Subsequent reviews must be completed within 12 months of the previous review.

The following steps must take place in an annual review:

  • Your LA must consult with parents (and with the school) about the EHC plan, and take account of  your views, wishes and feelings.
  • An annual review meeting must take place to discuss the EHC plan.
  • Information must be gathered from you as well as from professionals about the EHC plan, and then circulated two weeks before the meeting.
  • After the meeting a report of what happened must be written and sent to everyone who went to the meeting or provided information to be discussed.
  • After the meeting the LA reviews the EHC plan.
  • The LA must notify you of its decision within four weeks of the meeting.

 

All of these steps – not just the meeting – must be followed in order for an annual review to be completed.

 

What should an EHCP contain?

Under Regulation 12 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014 (the “SEN Regs”), an EHC plan must have the following sections:

  • Section A: the views, interests and aspirations of the child and his parents or the young person;
  • Section B: the child or young person’s special educational needs (“SEN”);
  • Section C: health care needs which relate to their SEN;
  • Section D: social care needs which relate to their SEN or to a disability ;
  • Section E: the outcomes sought for the child or young person;
  • Section F: the special educational provision required to meet their SEN;
  • Section G: any health care provision reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the child or young person having SEN;
  • Section H: any social care provision required from social services under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, and/or reasonably required by the learning difficulties or disabilities which result in the child or young person having SEN;
  • Section I: the name of the school or other institution to be attended by the child or young person, and the type of that institution (or just the type if no specific institution is named);
  • Section J: details of any direct payment which will be made;
  • Section K: copies of all of the advice and information obtained as part of the EHC needs assessment.

 

What will an annual review meeting look like at Oak Tree School?

Annual review meetings can be held in person or virtually.

If parents are unable to attend the initial date offered by the school, another date will be offered. However, if parents are unable to attend the review, the meeting will go ahead. The annual review must take place within a year of the previous meeting (apart from children starting a new school when the timescales can be adjusted slightly).

The Reviewing Officer will chair the meeting (a member of the Senior Leadership Team) and your child’s class teacher will attend. Parents are always invited to the annual review meeting.

It may be necessary to invite other professionals such as:

  • You child’s SEN case officer from your local authority
  • Your social worker or family worker
  • Therapists including speech and language or occupational therapy.
  • A member of your child’s health team (if your child has a significant health condition) such as a community nurse or paediatrician.

 

The annual review will take approximately one hour.

The meeting will follow a format:

  1. Welcome and introductions.
  2. The class teacher will talk through your child’s progress towards their short term targets (PLIMS) and long term targets (EHCP outcomes)
  3. The reviewing officer will discuss if any changes are required to the EHCP (any section)
  4. A summary of the meeting will be delivered.
  5. Sometimes, it may be appropriate for your child to attend part of the meeting to give their views or agree to their upcoming targets.
  6. The meeting will finish.

If you have any questions regarding your child’s annual review, please contact the school directly.

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