EHCP Annual Reviews: Who Is Responsible for Organising the Meeting?

Parents often ask who is responsible for arranging their child’s EHCP Annual Review meeting, particularly when communication feels unclear.

In a recent video on our Education Law TikTok channel, Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner at Watkins Solicitors, explains how responsibility for Annual Reviews is shared between the local authority and the school, and what parents can expect in practice.

The local authority’s role

Beverley explains that the local authority has the statutory responsibility for maintaining an Education, Health and Care Plan. This means it remains legally responsible for the EHCP and for making decisions following an Annual Review.

However, this does not usually mean that the local authority organises or attends every Annual Review meeting.

The school’s role in organising the review

In most cases, it is the school or educational setting that organises the Annual Review meeting. The school is responsible for:

• Arranging the date of the Annual Review
• Informing parents that the review is taking place
• Notifying the local authority of the meeting

Parents should therefore expect to hear from the school directly about when the review will happen.

Involvement of other professionals

Other professionals involved in a child’s education should also be invited to contribute to the Annual Review. This can include speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.

Beverley explains that while these professionals may sometimes attend the meeting itself, at the very least they should provide an up-to-date report in advance of the review to inform the discussion.

Will the local authority attend the meeting?

It does not automatically follow that the local authority will attend every Annual Review. Beverley explains that local authorities often only attend where there is a significant transition, such as:

• Moving from primary to secondary school
• Moving from secondary school to post-16 or post-19 education

Even where the local authority does not attend, it remains responsible for considering the Annual Review paperwork and deciding what happens next.

Why understanding roles matters

Knowing who is responsible for organising the meeting, and who may or may not attend, can help parents feel more prepared and less uncertain about the process. It also helps parents understand where to direct questions or concerns if information is missing or late.

Support with EHCP Annual Reviews

Our Education Law team regularly supports parents with EHCP Annual Reviews, including situations where meetings are delayed, reports are missing, or the process does not feel properly managed.

We focus on helping parents understand how the review should work and what steps can be taken if things do not go as expected.

Watch the video and get support

The full video, featuring Beverley Watkins answering this parent question, is available on our Education Law TikTok channel.

If you would like advice or support with an EHCP Annual Review, or have concerns about how the process is being handled, our specialist Education Law team is here to help.

You can contact us by emailing educationdept@watkinssolicitors.co.uk or calling 0117 939 0350 to discuss your situation and next steps.