Annual review

Once your child has an EHC plan EHCP A legal document, used in England, that sets out a child's needs and the support they must get. It is for children who need more help than their school can give on its own. Read the full definition of EHCP , the local authority Local authority Your local council. In England, Wales and Scotland, this is the body you ask to assess what extra help your child needs. Read the full definition of Local authority must review it at least every 12 months. There is a meeting, usually at the school, and your views and your child's views must be sought as part of it. It is the built-in moment to say what is working, what is not, and what has changed.

The part families are rarely told: the meeting itself decides nothing. After the review, the local authority must decide whether to maintain the plan, amend it, or cease it, and it is that decision, not the meeting, that carries your right of appeal Appeal A formal challenge to the SEND Tribunal about a council's EHC decision. It is free to bring, and you do not need a lawyer. Read the full definition of Appeal . So treat the review as your evidence-gathering moment, and watch for the decision letter that follows.

The yearly-review idea is not England-only: Northern Ireland reviews statements each year and Wales reviews Individual Development Plans. This entry describes the England process for EHC plans.