6. Annual Review

An LEA must review a statement within 12 months of making the statement or, as the case may be, of the previous review; and on making an assessment under section 167 of a child who already has a statement.

(Section 172(5))

Introduction

6:1. LEAs have the power to review a statement at any time during the year.  LEAs should aim to secure the agreement of the school and the child's parents before exercising that power.  LEAs must review all statements on an annual basis.  The timing of annual reviews should reflect the circumstances of the child and the action which may flow from the review, for example about a move to secondary school.  Timing should also reflect the circumstances of the child's school.  Particularly in the case of special schools it may not be reasonable to review all statements at the same time at the end of the academic year.  LEAs should seek to agree a reasonable spread of annual review dates with the school.  Parents should always be informed.

6:2. The purpose of an annual review is to integrate a variety of perspectives on a child's progress, to ensure that he or she is achieving the desired outcomes and, if necessary, to amend the statement to reflect newly identified needs and provision.  In some cases, the LEA will conclude that the statement's objectives have been secured and that they should cease to maintain the statement.  The annual review should focus on what the child has achieved as well as on any difficulties which need to be resolved.  While statements must be reviewed annually, schools, consulting parents and, as appropriate, the LEA, should, during the course of the year, monitor the child's progress towards the targets set out shortly after the statement was first made or at the last annual review.

6:3. The first annual review after the child's 14th birthday is particularly significant in preparing for his or her transition to the further education sector and adult life.  Paragraphs 6:42-6:54 deal with procedures to be followed for that annual review.  Paragraphs 6:6-6:41 deal with procedures for annual reviews in all other academic years.

6:4. The annual review should aim:

i. to assess the child's progress towards meeting the objectives specified in the statement and to collate and record information which the school and other professionals can use in planning their support for the child