For parents preparing for an annual review
Walk in feeling ready. Walk out with clear actions.
Annual reviews can feel like everyone in the room knows what they're doing except you. Annual Review Support is preparation help from a former SENCO who has run hundreds of these meetings, so you know exactly what to raise, what evidence matters, and what outcomes to push for.
Who books this service
Annual reviews are easier when someone has read your plan first
Most parents who book Annual Review Support are facing one of these situations:
- The review is two or three weeks away and you don't feel prepared.
- The current EHCP isn't really working but you're not sure how to explain why.
- Your child's needs have changed and you want the plan to reflect that.
- You're worried the school will ask for the plan to be reduced or removed.
- You've been told the plan is 'fine' but you don't feel it is.
Annual reviews aren't supposed to be combative. But they are technical. Going in without preparation often means walking out without the outcomes you wanted, not because anyone acted in bad faith, but because the moment to raise something passes quickly and you didn't know it was coming.
Annual Review Support
£150
Written review of your EHCP, preparation call, and a clear plan for the meeting.
- Walk into the review knowing exactly what to raise
- Take in specific, evidence-backed requests
- Leave the meeting with clear actions
What's included
Preparation that actually changes the meeting
- A written review of your current EHCP focused on what's relevant for this annual review
- A clear summary of what's working, what isn't, and what could be strengthened
- Specific questions and points to raise during the meeting
- Guidance on the evidence that will support what you're asking for
- A 45-minute call before the meeting to talk it through together
- Optional follow-up: a short email check-in after the meeting to discuss next steps
Why the school-side experience matters
Claire has been on the other side of the table
Most SEND consultants come from a parental or legal background. Claire spent 25 years in education, including 15 as a SENCO and 12 as a deputy head. She has chaired annual reviews. She has written the reports submitted to local authorities. She has seen the meetings that go well and the meetings that don't.
That's the lens she brings to Annual Review Support. Not ‘here's what the legislation says’, there are plenty of charities and law firms who can give you that, but ‘here's what actually happens in the room, here's what they'll respond to, here's what you can reasonably ask for given what your child's plan currently says.’
The process
A clear three-step process
01
Send your documents
Share the current EHCP, your latest annual review paperwork, and any recent school reports. Claire will tell you what else is useful.
02
Receive your written review
Within 5-7 working days, you'll get a detailed written assessment with specific points and questions to raise.
03
Have your prep call
A 45-minute call to talk through the review together, prioritise what matters, and rehearse anything you're unsure about.
Common questions
Questions parents often ask
How far in advance should I book Annual Review Support?
Ideally three to four weeks before your meeting. That gives time for the written review (5-7 working days), a prep call, and any follow-up questions. If your meeting is closer than that, get in touch anyway. Claire will tell you honestly whether she can still deliver in time.
Will Claire attend the meeting with me?
Annual Review Support is preparation, not attendance. If you'd like someone in the room alongside you, that's a different service. Get in touch and Claire will let you know what's possible.
What documents will Claire need?
Your child's current EHCP, the most recent annual review paperwork from the school, and any recent reports (educational psychologist, speech and language, OT, behavioural, whatever's relevant). Send what you have; Claire will say if anything else is needed.
What if my child's needs have changed significantly since the last review?
That's exactly when this service is most useful. Annual reviews are the formal moment when changes can be requested, and they often determine what the next twelve months look like. A clear, evidence-backed case at the review is the difference between needs being properly recognised and not.
Will you help me argue for a different placement?
A change of placement (for example, moving to a specialist setting) usually requires more than annual review support, it often involves additional evidence and sometimes a formal mediation process. Claire can flag whether this is a realistic ask given your child's plan and current circumstances, but she can't pursue a placement change as part of this service.
What if I disagree with what the school says at the review?
That's why preparation matters. Claire will help you anticipate likely positions from the school or local authority and prepare clear, calm responses to them. Disagreement at an annual review is not unusual, but having your case ready in advance changes how it lands.
If you need a different kind of help
Other parent services
Got an annual review coming up?
The earlier you start preparing, the more useful this service is. Get in touch and Claire will let you know what's possible given your timescale.
Book Annual Review Support