New Parent Carer Guide to Annual Reviews

The Annual Review is the statutory process of monitoring children and young people’s progress towards their outcomes and longer-term aspirations.  Annual Reviews must be completed in partnership with the child or young person and their Parent Carers.

With changes to the process, SENDIASS has worked with Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum to produce a new Guide for Parent Carers to the Annual Review Process with much more guidance on the EHCP page of Gloucestershire’s Local Offer Support for Families with SEND. Here is a brief overview of the new process:

Before the meeting

Your child’s school will start planning the Annual Review well in advance. Here’s what usually happens.

• Six to eight weeks before the meeting, the school will invite you and relevant professionals.
• They’ll ask for reports and check if there’s anyone else you’d like to invite.
• They can even help with practical arrangements, like childcare during the meeting.

You and your child will be asked to share your views, wishes, and feelings — including what’s working well and any changes you’d like to see in the EHCP.

Children and young people can take part as much or as little as they want. They can share their views ahead of the meeting in ways that work for them with help from someone they trust, allowing them to express their views. From Year 9 onwards, this is especially important for preparing for adulthood.

Three to four weeks before the meeting, the school checks all documents are ready.  Two weeks before, they’ll send out the invitation along with:

• your views and your child’s views;
• professional reports;
• the ‘My Annual Review Meeting’ form with recommendations; and
• attainment data.

During the meeting

The Annual Review meeting puts your family at the centre. It’s your chance to ask questions and share what matters most.

The meeting will:

• follow an agenda;
• celebrate achievements and progress;
• review outcomes and agree new ones if needed;
• check if support and provision are still right;
• look at health and social care arrangements; 
• discuss aspirations and, from Year 9, preparation for adulthood; and
• talk about personal budgets if you’re interested.

Any changes will be recorded on the 'My Annual Review Form'.

After the meeting

Within two weeks, the school will send a report with recommendations and any proposed changes. Then, within four weeks of the meeting, the local authority will confirm if the plan will:

• stay the same;
• be amended; or
• Cease if it’s no longer needed.

If changes are proposed, you’ll receive the draft EHCP and supporting evidence. Please review the plan carefully and contact you caseworker within 15 days if you have any questions about the content of your plan or feel further alterations are required.

Remember, this process is about working together to make sure your child’s plan reflects their needs and aspirations.

An Annual Review is designed to be a chance to hear all voices – from school staff, Parent Carers and most importantly from the child or young person with an EHCP.  Support is here every step of the way.

For more advice and guidance, you can contact SENDIASS for free, impartial and expert advice. See Glosfamilies Directory | SENDIASS Gloucestershire

You can also connect with Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum for peer support and events like ‘Listen to Me, which are coffee mornings, held in accessible locations across the county and your first cuppa is on us.

See Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum’s Facebook page and see much more information (including a video) on the 'Annual Review' grey dropdown on the EHCP page on Gloucestershire’s Local Offer, Support for Families with SEND to find out more.

Young people can watch videos and listen to podcasts on all aspects on the next phase on Future Me, a website designed specifically for them.

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