Annual Review
An LEA must review a statement of SEN at least once every 12 months. It is the responsibility of the LEA to ensure that the review takes place. The annual review ensures that everyone involved in a child’s education – parents, the pupil, teachers, other professionals and the LEA – consider the progress made and whether any amendments to the Statement are needed.
The head teacher at the school must ask for written advices from parents, and from any professionals involved in the child’s education or planning for the IEP. On receipt of this information, the head teacher will send copies to all those who should attend a review meeting.
The review meeting should include:
- Parents
- Relevant teacher
- Representative from the LEA
And can include:
- Any professionals involved
- Representatives from health and/or social services.
If the review is taking place in the year before transfer, there should also be a representative from the receiving school.
The review meeting should consider:
- Does the Statement remain appropriate?
- Are there any amendments required?
- Should the LEA maintain the statement or, if the child’s needs can be met through School Action Plus, should it cease to maintain the statement.
- Are new targets to be set to meet the objectives in the statement?
After the Review the Head Teacher must send the minutes (review report) to the SEN team at the LEA and everyone else involved (including you) within 10 school days of the review. The SEN team will look at the report and review the statement. They may decide to make amendments in the light of new information, maintain the statement as it is, or cease to maintain the statement if all targets have been achieved.
Annual reviews that take place in and after Year 9 require that a Transition Plan be drawn up.