Annual Reviews and EHCPs at Vranch House
At Vranch House, every pupil is supported as an individual. Our specialist education, therapy and clinical teams work together with families and professionals to help children and young people make meaningful progress towards the outcomes set out in their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
What is an EHCP?
An EHCP is a legal document for children and young people who need support beyond what is usually available through mainstream education. It describes their education, health and care needs, the support they should receive, and the outcomes everyone is working towards. All pupils at Vranch House have an EHCP and prospective pupils must be issued with one before a consult can be considered.
At Vranch House, EHCP outcomes are central to planning learning, therapy and wider development. Staff use them to shape each pupil's personalised programme, helping them build communication, independence, physical skills, confidence and engagement in learning.
What is an annual review?
An annual review is a formal meeting held at least once a year to look at a child or young person's EHCP. It is an opportunity to celebrate progress, consider what is working well, discuss any changes in need, and agree whether the EHCP outcomes and provision remain appropriate.
The review brings together the people who know and support the child or young person. This may include parents and carers, school staff, therapists, health professionals, social care colleagues and representatives from the local authority. Where appropriate, pupils are supported to share their views in a way that is meaningful and accessible to them.
How we prepare
Before the meeting, Vranch House gathers information from the staff and professionals involved in the pupil's education, therapy and care. This helps provide a full picture of progress across the school day, including learning, communication, physical development, health, wellbeing and independence.
Families are encouraged to share their views, questions and any updates from home. Your knowledge of your child is invaluable and helps make sure the review reflects the whole child, not just their progress in school.
What happens at the meeting?
During the annual review, we will usually discuss:
- Progress towards current EHCP outcomes
- What support has been most effective
- Any changes in education, health or care needs
- Whether outcomes should be updated
- The support and provision needed for the year ahead
- Preparation for transitions, including moving class, key stage or preparing for adulthood
Our aim is for the meeting to be positive, honest and collaborative. We want families to feel listened to and confident that the plan reflects their child's strengths, needs and aspirations.
After the annual review
Following the meeting, a review report is prepared and shared with the local authority. The local authority then considers the recommendations and decides whether the EHCP should remain the same, be amended, or whether any further action is needed.
Vranch House continues to work closely with families and professionals throughout the year, not just at review time. If needs change, concerns arise or new priorities emerge, please speak to your child's class team so we can discuss the best way forward.
Supporting families
We understand that EHCP paperwork and review processes can feel complex. Our team will do their best to explain what is happening, answer questions and support families to take part in the process. We encourage parents and carers to contact us if they are unsure about the annual review, need help preparing, or would like to discuss their child's outcomes.
By working together, we can make sure each EHCP remains purposeful, personalised and focused on helping every child and young person at Vranch House thrive.