Details the purpose of the annual review of the Statement of Educational Needs, as well details on the review meeting and transitioning children with special educational needs in year 9.

All statements of Special Educational Needs (other than for children under 2) must be reviewed at least once a year to ensure the parents, the pupil, the LEA, the school and any other professionals involved, consider the progress the pupil has made and whether any amendments need to be made to the description of the child's needs or to the Special educational provision in the statement.

When a Statement is amended after such a review, the date of the next review should follow on from the date when the statement was first issued not from the amendment. If the review results in a second assessment and new statement then the review should be 12 months from the date of the new statement.

Purpose of the Annual Review

The aims of an Annual review should be:

a. To assess the child's progress towards meeting the objectives specified and to collate and record information that the school and others can use in planning their support for the child.

b. If it's a first review, assess the child's progress towards meeting targets agreed and recorded in the IEP following the issue of the statement, and in the case of all other reviews to assess the progress of targets in the IEP set at the previous review.

c. Review the special provision made, including the appropriateness of any special equipment provided and assessment and reporting arrangements. The school should consider giving a profile of the Childs current levels of achievement in basic literacy, numeracy, life skills and a summary of progress achieved in other areas of the curriculum. Where a statement involves a modification of the National Curriculum, they should indicate what special arrangements have been made for the child.

d. To consider whether or not it is appropriate to continue the statement in view of the child's progress/performance during the year and if any additional needs have become apparent in that time, and

e. If the statement is to be maintained. To set new targets for the coming year.

The child's circumstances may have changed at one time or another over the year, for instance they may have received some education in a hospital school, a pupil referral unit or home tuition. Continuous assessment during the year may have identified or confirmed a medical or social problem or learning difficulty that will require different or continued support and intervention. These should be addressed and provision made in the annual review and reports obtained from the relevant people involved.

The annual review for children at school

This section applies to all reviews except for Year 9, which will be mentioned later.

The LEA must write to all head teachers no less than 2 weeks before the start of term with a list of pupils at their school who will require a review that term. The head teacher must provide the LEA with a report following the review meeting before the end of that term or 10 school days after the meeting takes place if that is earlier. The list must also be copied to Educational Psychologist, health authority, social services and any other agencies/specialists involved.

Once the head teacher has received the list, he can then initiate the process, he can also delegate these duties to a qualified teacher, ensuring the teacher knows of the Code and the Regulations, and also all of the relevant departments involved.

The head teacher must request written advice from: the child's parents, anyone specified by the authority and anyone else the head considers appropriate. All advice received must be copied and sent to all those invited to the review meeting at least 2 weeks before the date of the meeting, including comments from those who cannot attend the actual review meeting.

The written advice will be the basis for the meeting and should be sent with a report of the meeting to the LEA for their consideration. The advice should relate to:

• The child's progress in meeting the objectives in the statement, any short-term targets established to help with this.
• The application of the national curriculum
• Any progress the child has made in their behaviour and attitude to learning
• The continued appropriateness of the statement
• Any transition plans
• Any amendments to the statement, or whether the statement should cease to be maintained.

The Meeting

The Head Teacher, before producing the report must convene a meeting and must invite:

• "The child's parents (or if the child is in care, the child's social worker and the residential care worker or foster parents as appropriate).
• "A relevant teacher i.e.: child's class teacher or form/year tutor, the SENCO, or some other person responsible for the provision of education, the choice is the Head Teachers.
• "A representative of the LEA
• "Anyone else the LEA and Head Teacher considers appropriate.