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Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans - Transition Guide

Making the most of an annual review

If you have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, the annual reviews from Year 9 onwards must discuss preparing for adulthood. Preparing for Adulthood includes:

  1. getting ready for employment or other meaningful activity
  2. finding somewhere to live and getting good support
  3. friends, relationships and being part of a community
  4. achieving as healthy a life as possible

How to prepare for an annual review

You may start to think more about what you want to do when you finish your education. Your school or college will talk to you about transition planning. They will give you some information.

  • discuss with school or college if it would be appropriate for you to attend the meeting.  
  • your school or college should ask for your views before the meeting and share this information.  They will be able to help you with this.
  • your school or college will arrange the annual review meeting. Let them know if you or your parent/carer cannot attend so that they can arrange a different date.
  • your school or college will ask relevant professionals to attend.  They will ask them to send up-to-date information about you. You may want to ask them to invite specific professionals if you think them being there would be helpful.
  • it may be helpful to have a discussion with your parent/carer before the meeting, if possible. Talk to them about how things are now, what should happen next and in the future. You may want to write notes to take with you to the meeting.
  • the school or college must send out any reports (including those submitted by parents) at least two weeks before the annual review meeting. They must provide them in a way that you can read them, e.g. Braille, large print etc.

The school or college will send everyone a report of the meeting within two weeks. This should set out any recommended changes to the EHC plan.

The report is considered by the local authority’s SEND Statutory Assessment and Review Service (SENDSARS). They will tell you the outcome of the review within four weeks of the review meeting. The outcome could be:

  • the EHC plan is suitable as it is (no changes).
  • the EHC plan needs updating. This might be because your child’s needs have changed or because their provision needs to change.
  • the EHC plan should be ceased (ended) as you no longer need the specialist support it provides. See section below on ceasing an EHC plan for more information.  

If the local authority decides to update the plan, it will invite you and your parent/carer to comment on the updates. You will have at least fifteen days to respond. You can ask for a meeting with an officer from SENDSARS to discuss the changes.

You have a right to mediation and to appeal to the SEND Tribunal if you are not happy with the outcome of the review. More information is available by clicking here.

5 cartoon people, one is in a wheelchair

Ceasing an EHC plan

Most young people will have completed their education by 19 and may not need an EHC plan after they turn 19. This is very much down to the individual.

Some young people with SEND will need longer to complete their education and training. Your EHC plan may be maintained up to age 25. The length of time will vary according to each individual. An EHC Plan cannot be ceased just because you are over 18.

A local authority will cease (end) an EHC plan if:

  • you move into higher education (university).
  • you leave education. For example:
    • because you are moving into paid employment
    • because you no longer want to take part in education or training. If you are under the age of 18 and not in education, employment or training, then your EHC plan would normally continue.  Services would help you to get back into education.
  • you no longer need the special educational provision set out in your EHC plan

When making a cease decision about a young person aged 19 or over

The local authority has to consider if the education or training outcomes set out in the EHC plan have been met.

If the local authority wants to cease an EHC plan

  • It must tell you and your family that it is considering this.
  • It must give you, and their setting an opportunity to give their views about this.

This can be done in writing or at a meeting with the SEND Statutory Assessment and Review Service (SENDSARS). 

You have a right to mediation and to appeal to the SEND Tribunal if you are not happy with the outcome of the review. More information is available by clicking here.

When a young person is close to finishing their education or training

The local authority should use the final annual review to look at the support needed for a smooth transition into adulthood.

If you have any questions or issues about your EHC Plan or Annual Review

Talk to your school, college or the SEND Statutory Assessment and Review Service (SENDSARS).

Email: SENDAssess&Review@sheffield.gov.uk 

Phone: 0114 273 6394

You can also contact the SEND Information, Advice and support service (SSENDIAS). (See page 45)

The rest of this guide gives information about:

  • support with finding a job
  • adult social care services
  • health
  • housing
Last updated:
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In this section

  1. Introduction to the Transition Guide
  2. Preparing for Adulthood
  3. Sheffield's Local Offer
  4. What happens and when - Early Years (age 0-4)
  5. What happens and when - Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (age 5-7)
  6. What happens and when - Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 (age 7-11)
  7. What happens and when - Year 7 and Year 8 (age 11-13)
  8. What happens and when - Year 9 (age 13-14)
  9. What happens and when - Year 10 (age 14-15)
  10. What happens and when - Year 11 (Age 15-16)
  11. What happens and when - Year 12 (age 16-17)
  12. What happens and when - Years 13 and 14 (Age 17-19)
  13. What happens and when - Age 19-25
  14. Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans - Transition Guide
  15. Education, Employment and Training - GCSEs and Help in Exams - Transition Guide
  16. Post 16 Education - Transition Guide
  17. A Guide to Qualifications at 16+ - Transition Guide
  18. Apprenticeships and Supported Internships - Transition Guide
  19. Things to do when not in college - Transition Guide
  20. University and Higher Education - Transition Guide
  21. Careers Advice - Transition Guide
  22. 1) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  23. 2) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  24. 3) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  25. Leisure - Transition Guide
  26. SEN Transport - Transition Guide
  27. Independent Travel Training
  28. Other Travel Support and useful Apps - Transition Guide
  29. Social Care Services - Transition Guide
  30. Moving from Children’s to Adult Social Care Services - Transition Guide
  31. Paying for adult social care - Transition Guide
  32. Getting a carer’s assessment for your parent/carer - Transition Guide
  33. Short Break Services - Transition Guide
  34. Direct payments for social care services - Transition Guide
  35. Housing - Transition Guide
  36. Decision making and mental capacity - Transition Guide
  37. Transitioning from Children’s Health to Adult Health Services - Transition Guide
  38. Annual Health Checks for people with a learning disability - Transition Guide
  39. Important Local NHS Health Services - Transition Guide
  40. Mental Health Services - Transition Guide
  41. 1) Finance and Benefits: Disability Living Allowance, Direct Payments and Appointeeship - Transition Guide
  42. 2) Finance and Benefits: Universal Credit - Transition Guide
  43. 3) Finance and Benefits: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund - Transition Guide
  44. 4) Finance and Benefits: Banking, Wills and Trusts and Child Benefit - Transition Guide
  45. Further help and support - Transition guide