Guidance for managed moves
Managed Moves between schools first appeared in Department for Education (DFE) Circular 10/99 as an intervention to be used as part of a child’s Pastoral Support Programme, if appropriate, to reduce the risk of the child being permanently excluded. Current government guidance (Exclusion from Maintained Schools, Academies and Pupil Referral Units in England 2012) advises school leaders that:
‘A pupil can transfer to another school as part of a ‘managed move’ where this occurs with the consent of the parties involved, including the parents. However the threat of exclusion must never be used to influence parents to remove their child from the school’
Sir Alan Steer in his report Learning Behaviour: Lessons Learned. A review of behaviour standards and practices in our schools (DCSF 2009) described Managed Moves as
:… an appropriate strategy to promote the reduction in numbers of pupils being excluded inmainstream schools. This should be seen as a piece of preventative work to support pupils at risk of exclusion.
Schools are not required by the DFE to use managed moves. This document includes the Local Authority’s (LA’s) recommendation for the use of managed moves and outlines where schools can access support to implement and monitor them.
The recent consultation on the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2006, (which came into effect on 1st September 2016) will place an emphasis on the need for improved collaboration, communication and information sharing between schools (including independent school) and LA’s. The consultation which was launched in 2015 identified inconsistent practices which in turn highlighted poor communication and coordination between schools and LA’s. This raised serious concerns about safeguarding issues with children being potentially exposed to the risk of harm, exploitation or radicalisation.
Effective information sharing between parents, schools and LA’s is vital in ensuring that all children of compulsory school age are receiving a safe and suitable education. There is a duty on the LA to make arrangements for ensuring the functions conferred on them are exercised with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
The Department for Education (DfE) Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance September 2023, states:
A managed move is used to initiate a process which leads to the transfer of a pupil to another mainstream school permanently. Managed moves should be voluntary and agreed with all parties involved, including the parents and the admission authority of the new school. Managed moves should only occur when it is in the pupil’s best interests.’
The following principles underpin all requests for managed moves:
- A Managed move request should be initiated by the child’s original school.
- The SEND and Inclusion HUB are to be notified of all Managed moves. A referral should be sent to the HUB inbox and any new Managed moves should be discussed at the district HUB meetings.
- Parents must agree and willing to support a Managed move.
- The student must be willing to participate and co-operate in the move. It is good practice to gain the child’s voice at this point.
- Each Managed move must be individually considered, considering the young person’s educational, social and emotional wellbeing.
- A Managed move must form part of a planned intervention and not as an early or first response to behavioural concerns.
- The original school should be able to evidence that appropriate intervention has been carried out, including, where relevant, multi-agency support, or appropriate assessments were done or explored prior to a Managed move. This should be evidenced through the graduated response pathway.
- Schools must act in a spirit of partnership and collaboration for the Managed move arrangements to work. Regular review points should be held and documented with agreement from the child and family.
- The original school should continue to offer support and advice to the receiving school during the period of the Managed move.
- The Managed move plan must include clear strategies to support the transition including supporting possible issues that arise during the transition period. This should include regular reviews structured from the onset of the plan.
- The new school should provide and adjust provision/support to aid a successful Managed move.
- If the new school are considering ending the Managed move, they should first liaise with the original school and parents to ensure there are no further actions which can be taken to prevent the breakdown of the Managed move.
- A Managed move is an opportunity for the pupil to have a fresh start in a new school.
- They are most likely to be effective when used as a tool as part of a planned intervention rather than as a reactive alternative to permanent exclusion arising from repeated and serious instances of poor behaviour.
- There are a variety of other circumstances where they may also be considered as desirable, e.g. incidences of bullying (perpetrator or victim); serious deterioration in the relationship between home and school; home circumstances; community issues.
- Managed moves should only be undertaken with the full knowledge and co-operation of all the parties involved, including the parents.
- As an alternative, where the young person is likely to be permanently excluded.
- Where the school’s own behaviour management strategies have been implemented to address a series of behavioural concerns and a Structured Support Plan meeting has concluded that a fresh start in a new school would be the most positive intervention strategy to maintain the pupil in education.
- Where there are well documented instances of other interventions and support strategies which have already been tried and are proving unsuccessful.
- Where the relationship between the pupil and either a particular group of fellow pupils and/or staff has broken down to an irrevocable degree.
- Where a pupil is not regularly attending school and the causes of the non-attendance have been fully investigated, and it appears that issues directly linked to the school are the significant factor in the non-attendance, at this stage a Managed move could be considered, if deemed in the best interest of the young person by the parents, school and the young person themselves.
- A Managed move should not be sought for a pupil in Year 11. (A modified program, which might include short-term off-site direction to alternative provision, may be more appropriate).
- A Managed move should not be instigated for a child with a child protection plan, unless the proposed move forms part of this plan.
- When a parent is seeking a straightforward transfer to another school.
- The pupil is not on a school roll.
- The pupil would not be able to return to the original school if the placement is unsuccessful.
- If parents are not in agreement with a Managed move DfE guidance states:
If a parent believes that they are being pressured into a Managed move or is unhappy with a Managed move, they can take up the issue through the school’s formal complaints procedure with the governing board and, where appropriate, the local authority. Within the school inspections framework, under leadership and management, Ofsted will consider any evidence found of a parent being pressured into a Managed move that has resulted in off-rolling and is likely to judge a school as inadequate on the basis of such evidence.’
- For a child with an Education Health and Care Plan, such queries should be directed to the EHCP Team for consideration before any further actions are taken.
- The new school must be able to provide suitable, full-time education, appropriate to the special educational needs as set out in the EHCP.
- Any additional support identified through the pupil’s EHCP will need to be transferred to the new school from the original school’s SEN allocation. This should be agreed prior to the initial Managed move meeting.
- Any transport implications need to be taken into consideration as part of this decision.
- If the Managed move is successful, an interim review of the EHCP will need to take place. This could happen at the 12 week review meeting. This will provide the necessary information for the LA to consult formally with the receiving school and amend the EHCP to name the new school as the sole registered base.
- Where a child is in the care of the local authourity, the school should communicate directly with Staffordshire’s Virtual School before any considerations around a Managed move take place.
- Where a child has an allocated social worker, they should be consulted prior to and included in any decision making.
- For a child identified at SEN Support the SENCOs at both schools should meet to ensure all information on needs and support is shared and understood prior to any decision being made.
- The original school can evidence that they have considered if the pupil has unmet special educational needs that require support through the graduated response and have consulted with the new schools SENCO to take appropriate action where these have been identified.
- The original school must have set and reviewed agreed outcomes in line with the graduated response pathway demonstrating that a range of strategies have been tried and reviewed with written evidence to support this.
- The original school has made all appropriate referrals to outside agencies for support.
- The school and family share the view that the original school has, at present, exhausted all reasonable strategies to support the pupil.
- There is a clear audit of the pupil’s strengths and capabilities that can form the core of a transition plan in the new school.
- The school and family share the view that the new school is likely to be able to offer something sufficiently different to make the Managed move viable. This may be the size/location of the school or a new peer group/teaching team/curriculum, depending on the issues at the original school.
- The family is committed to supporting the process, their consent MUST be gained, and the students views and voice should be recorded as best practice.
The head teacher at the original school should contact the parents to agree the appropriateness of a Managed move in the first instance. It is important at this stage that parents understand the process and their responsibilities. School should identify with parents’ which school’s may be possible in terms of appropriateness, distance and transport requirements.
All managed move students should be referred to the SEND and Inclusion HUB for the district. This is to ensure multi agency oversight and early access to multi agency support, advice and guidance that may assist with the success of the move.
If parents/carers agree that a Managed move is appropriate, the head teacher is responsible for contacting the head teacher of a new school to request the move, setting out reasons why the move might work. This should generally be the next appropriate school to the pupil’s home, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
It should be stressed that the protocol puts Headteachers under no pressure to accept a student when a Managed move is not felt to be in the interests of the student, or of other students in the school. Nor can a Headteacher be put under any pressure to attempt a Managed move unless the Headteacher feels it is in the best interests of all parties.
The new school must have reference to their school’s admissions code when committing to a decision about whether to accept a Managed move.
Once a new school has agreed to the move in principle, we recommend that the head teachers discuss financial arrangements prior to the formal Managed move meeting.
Before convening the meeting, the original school will have to gather information to inform the Managed move meeting. This should include:
- Ensure that there is a referral to the SEND and Inclusion HUB within the district.
- Views and/or wishes and feelings of the pupil.
While it is expected that that pupil should attend some if not all of the Managed move meeting and encouraged to express views freely and honestly, it may be difficult to do this during the formal meeting. If the family are working with children’s services, for example, Early Help, Action for Children or Social Care, the designated member of staff can gain the students voice via a statement from the child that can be read out during the meeting should they have limited understanding due to age, or should they not wish to attend the meeting.
Evidence of all previous interventions:
- Copy of any Early Help Assessment, Outcome Star, Pupil Support Plan and suggested strategies.
- Provision map
- Assessment of need
- Evaluation of any strategies suggested by behaviour support, Education Psychology, SEND and Inclusion HUB.
- Summary of the support from any relevant agency already supporting the pupil
- Most recent assessment and attainment data
- Relevant safeguarding information
- Risk assessments
- Exclusion and suspension data
- Attendance record and support
It is recommended that the head teachers or representation of both schools attend all Managed move meetings to retain oversight of the plan.
Practical arrangements
- The Managed move meetings should be conducted at a date and time that is suitable and accessible for the parents/ carers and school staff. The initial meeting can take place via online methods such at MSTeams, but it is advisable to hold the first meeting in person. If the initial meeting takes place at the new school, it allows the student and family to acclimatise to the new school.
- The original school is responsible for inviting parents and appropriate outside agencies giving ample advanced notice. The original school may also liaise with the new school to invite professionals from other agencies e.g. Early Help, Health, YOT, Social Care who may be able to work with parents, the pupil, and the school to make the Managed move work.
The initial managed move meeting is held to identify:
- The reason for the move. What change is needed and what support can be offered.
- Identify why the new school has been recognised as a positive change for the student.
- What support or alternative strategies the new school can offer.
- Produce an effective integration strategy which can include commitments from both schools, parents and other agencies including targets for the pupil, expectations and comments from both schools and the parents along with any other agency input required to make the move successful.
- Clearly outline timelines including start date and practical arrangements such as uniform, travel and timetable. Set dates for regular review points, fortnightly reviews are recommended to ensure consistent oversight is gained.
- What will happen if the Managed move is successful or not successful. What strategies will be put into place to ensure the student has a swift and targeted transition back into the existing school if the managed move failed. What would be the recognised achievements if the move was a success.
- In instances where the student requires intensive support, it is recommended that fortnightly monitoring meetings take place to evaluate the original plan, review previous, and set new targets. This is also an opportunity to celebrate success and manage any possible issues that may arise. For students who do not require intensive oversight the review points may be reduced to 6 weeks and end at 12 weeks.
- During the Managed move, the new school should provide the original school with a weekly record of the pupil’s attendance.
- The key people who attended the original meeting will be invited to review to examine progress at all of the set review points.
- School staff should share reports against the students progress during the placement.
- Parents/carers and the student are also asked to provide their input too.
If the Managed move is still in place by week 12, it is expected that the new school will deem it has been successful. The 12-week review is an opportunity to congratulate all concerned for making the move a positive one, including the pupil who has responded to the support offered.
The chair of the meeting should:
- Confirm that the Managed move has been successful and that the original school can remove the pupil from their admissions register. The receiving school should also single roll the student at this point.
- Clarify the ongoing support required to continue the successful progress.
- Send out confirmation letters to the family, the receiving school and any other partner agencies involved.
If it appears that the Managed move is failing between review periods, an emergency review meeting should be called by the head of the original school. Discussions should take place to discuss the viability of the placement and any additional support should be considered.
If the head teacher at the proposed new school feels that the Managed move is not working, they will without delay need to:
- Contact parents and the original school– by phone if possible and by letter on the day of the decision, detailing the reason for ceasing the move.
- Prepare a report for the original school detailing the support that had been provided as well as the attendance log. It will help the original school plan for the pupil’s return if they know about strategies that had been partially successful as well as those that have not.
The proposed new school does not need to call a meeting when the Managed move has broken down. At this point, the original school becomes the focus for planning for the pupil. As the original school remain legally responsible for the student, they will need to consider a new plan for education and consider a reintegration back to the original setting, while remaining child centred and considering the students.
The receiving school may wish to negotiate the transfer of funding if the pupil is formally admitted. The appropriate amount would be the balance remaining of the AWPU plus any other amounts such as Special Educational Needs/EHCP funding, according to the agreed current formulae.
Schools may want to negotiate the backdating of funds to the beginning of the trial period. It would be appropriate to discuss funding arrangements before the start of the managed move.
Appendix 1
- Parental consent for a managed move (KB) TO FOLLOW
Appendix 2
- Managed move request - school information (KB) TO FOLLOW
Appendix 3
- Managed move plan (KB) TO FOLLOW
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