How do we prepare a pupil and family for a transition review?

First, capture the pupil's and family's views before the day

Gather the pupil’s and family’s views early in the pupil’s preferred format, then send all advice to attendees at least two weeks before the meeting — held in autumn so the council can amend the EHC plan by 15 February. A transition review is simply a phase-transfer annual review of an Education, Health and Care plan (the EHC plan): the annual review held in the year a child moves between phases, such as primary to secondary or Year 11 to post-16. Capture the child’s views in their own way — writing, drawing, photos, a recorded clip, or a one-page profile — well before the meeting, not on the day. That is what makes the review about the child rather than a paperwork exercise, and the Code expects reviews to be done in partnership with the child and family and to take account of their wishes and feelings.

Then run the statutory mechanics the school controls

Where the pupil attends a school, the school must seek advice and information about them from everyone invited to the review, and send that advice to all attendees at least two weeks before the meeting SEND Code of Practice 2015, para 9.176. Invite the receiving school or college so the new setting hears the pupil and family directly. From Year 9 at the latest, every review must build in a focus on preparing for adulthood — employment, independent living, taking part in society and good health — and must seek and record the young person’s own views IPSEA. After the meeting, send your report to everyone invited within two weeks. For more on the meeting itself, see what your duties are at a pupil’s EHCP annual review.

The deadline that drives the whole timetable

Here is the qualifier the parent-facing guides miss: the binding deadline belongs to the council, not the school. The council must review and amend the plan, and issue the amended plan naming the new placement, by 15 February in the year of transfer for moves into or between schools, and by 31 March for moves from secondary to a post-16 setting or apprenticeship SEND Code of Practice 2015, paras 9.179–9.180. The lever you control is timing: hold the review in the autumn term, ideally by October, so the council has room to amend and issue in time. If the council misses its deadline, that is a failure you can challenge — see how long the council has to issue an amended EHCP after a review.

This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.