EHCP review - advice please

[Worriedmotheroftwo]

My son's first EHCP review is coming up. I don't want anything changing - I'm very happy with the EHCP.

Can anyone please tell me... on average, how many EHCPs get removed? This is what I'm scared of.
Also, what can I do to prepare?
Thanks!

It is worth reading IPSEA’s overview of the AR process here so you know what should happen.

Part of the key to a successful AR is the preparation, so make sure all the necessary the advice and information is circulated at least 2 weeks beforehand and that it is accurate. If that is accurate, there will be evidence the EHCP needs to be maintained.

The LA is not likely to propose to cease to maintain for a compulsory school aged pupil who has only had their EHCP a year.

In 2023, which is the most recent year covering statistics for ceasing to maintain, 39,400 EHCPs were ceased. That covers lots of different reasons, though. You can see more detailed statistics on the government's website here.

It is also worth knowing if the LA proposes to cease to maintain it is worth appealing because the EHCP must be maintained until the conclusion of the appeal.

Many thanks. Good to know re appeal. What about progress towards the EHCP targets? If he has achieved them, does that make it more likely his EHCP will be ceased?

Despite what some LAs think, EHCPs don’t contain targets. They contain outcomes.

No, the outcomes being achieved does not automatically mean maintaining the EHCP is unnecessary and it is lawful for the LA to cease the EHCP. Besides, the EHCP should have outcomes that cover a range of time. There should be longer term outcomes than just for a year. The outcomes currently in the EHCP may need to be amended.

Yes, sorry, outcomes. But is it MORE likely that the EHCP will be ceased if he has achieved lots of outcomes?

Basically, I guess I want to know what I should be arguing. I got his EHCP through last year despite it being rejected initially and threw myself into it, but I did tons of research and eventually knew exactly what I needed to do. The AR is a whole new ballgame though and, like the EHCP itself in the first place, I feel like I need to know how it's 'played' in order to ensure it isn't ceased.

For a child who is still CSA, having achieved the outcomes doesn’t really make it more likely the EHCP will be ceased. Or if it does, only very marginally. It is really unlikely your LA will propose to cease to maintain.

You need to show it is still necessary to maintain the EHCP and highlight any amendments that need making. You do both of those via evidence. This is why the advice and information sought beforehand is important. It should cover things like progress, what has worked well and what hasn’t worked well, updated needs, updated outcomes and recommendations for provision going forward. If it is accurate, the need to maintain won’t be in doubt and the amendments required will be clear and supported by evidence.

Your/DS’s views/aspirations should be sought as well.

Once you have the advice and information, you can go through the existing EHCP noting the amendments that need proposing in light of the advice and information and also looking at the wording of any existing provision that is woolly and vague which needs amending.

Thanks - I really appreciate your input. It's such a minefield and I'm terrified of losing what we fought so hard for!