Timeframe for EHCP review meeting (early years)

The information on this page is for professionals working with children in Early Years. If you are a parent/ carer, you can find out more information about the Annual Review process on the Annual Review of the EHC plan page.

Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans should be used to actively monitor a child's progress towards their outcomes and longer-term aspirations. They must be reviewed as a minimum every 12 months. Reviews must focus on the child's progress towards achieving the outcomes specified in the EHC plan. The review must also consider whether these outcomes and supporting targets remain appropriate.

If you are working with a child with an EHC plan in Early Years, you can use the guidance below help you prepare for their EHC plan review meeting.

Please contact your Early Years (EY) SEND Advisor if you need support to organise an EHC plan review.

Timeframe for a review meeting guidance for Early Years professionals

When by:What to do:WhoInvite

Final EHCP arrives

Or at least 6 weeks before

  • Organise date and send out invitations to the EHCP review meeting to parents, Case Officer, EP and all other professionals involved. (if within 6 months before leave for school ie: end of July) this could be part of a transition meeting)
  • Ask all professionals for a copy the most recent report.
  • Ask Case Officer for copy of EHCP in Word
  • Organise a venue, could be in the school or the nursery if room. It needs to be a confidential space.
Setting – SENCO or manager.
  • Parents/ carers
  • Case Officer
  • Educational psychologist
  • All professionals involved
  • School (when known)
One month before
  • Start the EHCP review paperwork – cut and paste from final EHCP
  • Make sure all assessments and ISPs are reviewed and updated as needed.
  • You could make notes of progress/strategies working for the meeting.
SENCO / Keyperson 
Three weeks before
  • Meet with parents to update one-page profile and family history – give them agenda for meeting – show the review paperwork
  • Sometimes you will have no attendees, except the parent and yourselves – in this case use this meeting as the review – include any recent reports from professionals when sending the minutes.
SENCO / KeypersonParents / carers
Two weeks before
  • Send out reminder and include:
    • Statutory review form with setting and parents updates.
    • All recent reports send from professionals
SENCO / Manager
  • Parents/ carers
  • Case Officer
  • Educational psychologist
  • All professionals involved
  • School (when known)
Few days beforeMake sure you have all your information ready for the meeting and you have agreement of who will chair and take minutes.SENCO  
Day of the meetingPrepare room – do you need water, biscuits, flip chart paper/A3 1pg profile, outcomes and targets/ provision mapSENCO / Manager 
After the meeting – within two weeksWrite up minutes, attach all recent reports and send to Case Officer, EP and all who were invited to the meeting.Minute taker / SENCO / Manager 
Decision by LA – within four weeksLA – The Local Authority considers any recommendation from the Annual Review and reaches a decision.LA – Area SEND Team (Case Officers Team)

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