If the Specialist Provision Packages are only reviewed every 5 years, how is this better than the current system where EHCPs are reviewed annually?

We do not feel it is. In the White Paper the government has noted “The support provided by EHCPs is inflexible, making it hard for settings to adapt as needs change over time, which leaves too many children and young people with provision that is not necessarily suitable.” The proposed Specialist Support Packages are provision led, meaning the child/young person will receive the provision dictated by the package they are placed in, whether this is suitable to meet all their needs or not. This is moving away from provision being needs led as in the current EHCP system.