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Annual reviews of EHC plans: guidance and process

Find out about the requirements for reviewing education, health and care (EHC) plans, including who should conduct the review in your school and how to carry it out. Plus, see examples of local authority guidance and templates.

Last reviewed on 16 May 2025
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 11229
Contents
  1. EHC plan reviews must happen at least once a year
  2. How to conduct a review
  3. Where necessary, request an early review
  4. Examples of LA guidance and forms

The requirements for reviewing education, health and care (EHC) plans are outlined in chapter 9 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice (pages 194 to 200). We summarise these below.

EHC plan reviews must happen at least once a year

This means:

  • The first review must happen 12 months after the plan was issued, at the latest
  • Subsequent reviews must happen 12 months after the last review, at the latest
  • If the child or young person’s circumstances change significantly, a new review can be requested before 12 months have elapsed (see section below on early reviews)

Note: in the EYFS, reviews should occur at least every 3 to 6 months (see paragraph 9.178 of the SEND code of practice).

Your local authority (LA) has overall responsibility for reviewing the plans

The LA can