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:	Who	Invite
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 / Keyperson	Parents / 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 before	Make 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 meeting	Prepare room – do you need water, biscuits, flip chart paper/A3 1pg profile, outcomes and targets/ provision map	SENCO / Manager
After the meeting – within two weeks	Write 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 weeks	LA – The Local Authority considers any recommendation from the Annual Review and reaches a decision.	LA – Area SEND Team (Case Officers Team)