Parent or Young Person
The child’s parent or the young person must be invited and should be meaningfully involved in the review.
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Who Can or Should Attend an EHCP Annual Review?
Parents often ask who should be at their child’s Annual Review and whether they can ask other professionals to attend.
An Annual Review should bring together the people who can provide relevant information about the child or young person’s needs, progress and provision.
In a recent video on our Education Law TikTok channel, Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner at Watkins Solicitors, explains who families might expect to be involved.
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Book on EventbriteWho Should Attend an EHCP Annual Review?
Beverley Watkins explains who should be invited, which professionals may be involved and why parents, children and young people should be meaningfully included in the Annual Review process.
Video by Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner at Watkins Solicitors.
Parents and Young People Must Be Invited
The SEND Regulations specify a number of people who must be invited to an Annual Review meeting.
Education Setting
A representative of the school, college or other education setting should be invited.
Local Authority SEN Officer
A local authority SEN officer should be invited to contribute to the review.
Health and Social Care
An appropriate health professional and an appropriate social care representative should also be invited.
2Weeks’ Notice
At least two weeks’ notice of the meeting must be given.
Not every invited professional will necessarily attend, but their advice and information can still form part of the Annual Review.
What If a Parent Cannot Attend in Person?
Parents should be meaningfully involved in the Annual Review process.
If attending in person is difficult, speak to the school, college or person organising the review as early as possible about alternative arrangements, such as taking part remotely.
Where a parent has a disability, there may also be duties to consider reasonable adjustments.
Families should not feel they have no input simply because attending the meeting in the usual way is difficult.
Can Other Professionals Attend?
It can be very useful to involve professionals who know the child well or who have recently assessed them. Depending on the child’s needs, this could include:
Speech and Language Therapist
Occupational Therapist
Educational Psychologist
Class Teacher
SENCO
Social Worker
Specialist Teacher
Private Professional Working With the Child
Parents can ask for relevant professionals to be involved and should raise this with the person arranging the review in advance.
Even where a professional cannot attend, their written advice can still be important. Information gathered for the review must be circulated at least two weeks before the meeting.
Should the Child or Young Person Attend?
The child or young person’s views are an important part of the Annual Review.
How they participate should reflect their age, understanding, communication needs and wishes.
Attending the Meeting
Some children and young people may want to attend the whole meeting or join for a shorter period, perhaps at the beginning or for the part most relevant to them.
Sharing Views Another Way
Others may prefer to communicate their views in another way. The process should be arranged so their views, wishes and feelings can genuinely be considered.
Can Parents Take Someone for Support?
If you would find it helpful to have another person with you, raise this with the person organising the meeting beforehand.
This might be a family member, advocate or professional who understands your child’s needs.
The aim should be to ensure that the review has the information needed to properly consider the EHCP and that parents and young people can participate effectively.
How Can Watkins Solicitors Help?
An Annual Review can involve several professionals and a large amount of information, and parents may be unsure whether the right people have contributed or whether important evidence has been overlooked.
Our specialist, multi-award-winning Education Law team can advise before or after an Annual Review, review the EHCP and professional reports, and help families identify amendments that may be needed.
Watkins Solicitors’ Education team was named Team of the Year at the Bristol Law Society Awards 2025, alongside the firm being named Regional Law Firm of the Year.
Unsure Who Should Be Involved in an Upcoming Annual Review?
If you are concerned that the right professionals have not been invited, you need help considering who should contribute evidence, or you want advice about participating effectively in the review, our specialist Education Law team can help.
Watch the Video and Get Support
The full video, featuring Beverley Watkins answering this parent question, is available above and on our Education Law TikTok channel.
If you need advice about an upcoming Annual Review, our specialist Education Law team is here to help.
You can contact us by emailing education@watkinssolicitors.co.uk or calling 0117 939 0350.
Education Law TikTok
Our Education Law TikTok features short videos from the Watkins Solicitors Education Law team answering common questions about EHCPs, SEND provision, school placements, Annual Reviews and SEND Tribunal appeals.
Follow @watkinssolicitors.sen for practical explanations from our specialist team and to see our latest SEND and Education Law videos.