23rd January 2026 • My Family Our Needs

Approaching an EHCP review? Wondering when an EHCP stops or what transition looks like as your young person approaches adulthood? Understanding the process makes all the difference. In our newest blog, we break down EHCP reviews, ceasing decisions and transition assessments for ages 19–25, with clear guidance taken from our NEW South East Guide to SEND.

Our SEND Guide includes specific information and signposts to services and resources in the South East, however, this content is applicable to all areas in the UK.

Reviewing an EHCP

Your local authority has a statutory obligation to review your child’s EHCP in its entirety at least annually (or every six months if your child is under five) and is a chance for parents and young people to request changes with supporting evidence, if needed. The review may differ during key transitions, including a Year 6 Transition Review before secondary school and a Year 11 Transition Review before post-16 education.

If a review is not completed within the required timeframe, you should contact your local SEND team (read more on page 25 of the Guide) or EHCP caseworker at the local authority for an immediate review. If the delay is significant and the local authority is unresponsive, you can escalate the issue by making a formal complaint to the local authority, contacting your Local Government Ombudsman (details on page 95 of the Guide) or seeking legal advice. You can ask for an informal review at any time, which could be an opportunity to discuss how the school is implementing the plan and any concerns you have about your child’s progress. An early EHCP review can be requested on specific grounds when:

• There is a problem and it seems the school may not be meeting the young person’s needs.
• There is a major change in a young person’s SEND and the plan doesn’t reflect this.
• The provision in the EHCP no longer meets their needs.
• The young person has been excluded or is at risk of exclusion from the school.

Ceasing an EHCP

In most cases, an EHCP will last until the young person turns 25. Section 45 of the Children and Families Act sets out the circumstances in which a local authority may cease to maintain an EHCP earlier than this. This is when they are no longer responsible for the young person or they decide it’s no longer necessary to maintain the plan, for example, if special educational provision is no longer necessary.

When determining whether a young person no longer requires a plan, the local authority must consider whether the educational or training outcomes specified in the plan have been achieved.

If the young person is over 16, they can make the decision to cease the EHCP themselves.

When a young person is close to finishing their education and training, the local authority should use the final annual review to agree on the support needed to help them engage with services after they leave education.

If your young person is progressing to higher education such as university, their EHCP will cease. Other services will be available to support them instead such as their university’s disability support service.

Transition assessments in an EHCP from age 19-25

Starting from Year 9, preparing for adulthood planning should be incorporated into your young person’s EHCP. The EHCP review and subsequent reviews should include specific targets to help your young person achieve their goals related to preparing for their adulthood. The four areas of preparing for adulthood planning (employment, education and training; independent living; community inclusion; and good health) are discussed on page 47 of the Guide.

Your local authority can decide if an EHCP is no longer necessary for a 19- to 25-year-old. However, your young person may need longer in education or training to achieve their outcomes and make an effective transition into adulthood. Further specialised transition reviews should be conducted to ensure a smooth transition into their post-16 education, training, work and beyond. You can request these reviews in the same way you would for a normal EHCP review.

Students ages 19 to 25 with EHCPs who are continuing in education may have a range of options, including further education, training, a supported internship or apprenticeships (read more on page 48 of the Guide). Local authorities should consider the need to provide young people with an EHCP with a full package of support across education, health and care. They will need to work with providers and young people to ensure there is a range of opportunities that can be tailored to the individual’s needs. It may include activities such as:

• Volunteering or community participation.
• Work experience.
• Independent travel training.
• Skills for living in semi-supported or independent accommodation.
• Training to develop and maintain friendships.
• Access to local facilities.
• Physiotherapy.

Young people aged 19 to 25 have the right to request an EHCP even if they have never received one, unless an assessment has been carried out within the last six months.

For young adults, there may be separate assessments for health and social care. These focus on areas such as independent living, employment, community participation and health. The aim is to ensure that education, health and social care services work together to provide a co-ordinated plan of support that helps your young person move successfully into adult life. Read more on health and social care assessments on page 79 of the Guide.

You can also seek independent advice from your local SENDIASS (details on page 97 of the Guide).