Managed Moves

You don’t have to agree to a managed move.   A managed move cannot be undertaken without the consent of parents and is a voluntary agreement between the two schools, parent and child.  

If a parent believes they have been pressured to agree to a managed move or is unhappy with a managed move, they need to follow the school complaints procedure and write to the school governors and where appropriate, the local authority. 

A managed move is not appropriate when:

• The graduated approach of assess, plan, do review is not in place – your child’s needs should be fully identified and regularly reviewed.
• A headteacher cannot evidence that all preventative/alternative approaches has been exhausted, including referral to local authority professionals or external agencies for specialist advice and guidance
• A child is undergoing an Education, Health & Care Needs Assessment - a change of school will automatically delay the process while the child settles into the new school and the school are able to assess the needs.
• A child has an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) – the school should request an early annual review to discuss if the school is not meeting the child or young person’s needs.
• Where a child or young person is Looked After, a managed move can only be considered after all avenues have been explored and with the full involvement and agreement of the Virtual Headteacher and the social worker who is responsible for the care plan.

A managed move can be a supportive measure for children who may benefit from a fresh start at a new school.  Challenging behaviour often occurs in SEND children and young people when their needs have not been fully identified and appropriate support and reasonable adjustments have not been put in place. If your child has SEND and you feel that the lack of appropriate support has led to the behaviour issues then it is vital that a full assessment of your child’s needs takes place, so that the right support is in place before the child starts at a new setting

The threat of exclusion must never be used to influence you to remove your child from a school. Parents are often encouraged to accept a managed move to avoid risking a permanent exclusion on their child’s record. Managed moves are not subject to the same legal protection and scrutiny as a permanent exclusion. There is no automatic review of the head teacher’s decision by the governors and no right of parental appeal as it seen as a voluntary decision. For these reasons it is important not to rush into it and to make sure it is the best route for getting the support your child needs to succeed.

You should consider if a managed move to another school is an appropriate response, or whether there are alternative solutions that could be considered and explored, such as:- 

• Ensuring One Planning (assess, plan, do & review) is in place with regular review meetings with all involved parties
• Your child’s views have been obtained and shared with the school
• Counselling/mentoring (some schools have a regular counsellor available for children and young people)
• Involvement of local authority professionals or external services for specialist advice & guidance
• Referral to the Mental Health Service for children and young people
• Make a request for an Education, Health & Care Needs Assessment.

Schools should never use a managed move as an alternative to initiating a request for EHC Needs assessment if it is thought to be necessary. A change of school will automatically delay the process while the child settles into the new school and the school are able to assess the needs.

A transition meeting will be held at the host school and should be attended by  parents and child/young person and any involved professionals. A managed move plan is drawn up to support your child. You and your child will be able to ask any questions about the arrangements in these meetings.

The purpose of the meeting should be to :

• To agree practical arrangements, such as starting date and structure of the timetable. This may be fulltime or reduced as part of a phased integration
• To fully understand the support to be offered to the child/young person by the host school e.g. current attainment and academic potential, learning support, mentoring/counselling, befriending support, reasonable adjustments to enable successful transition
• The expectations on the parents to support the plan e.g. transport, uniform, homework etc
• Expectations and targets set for the young person regarding their attendance, behaviour and participation in school community.
• To discuss and complete the risk assessment – including safeguarding, travel to school etc.
• It is also crucial to consider a relapse strategy, what will happen if the child/young person gets into trouble, what support will they be offered, are parents willing to support any sanctions, can the main school be contacted for specific advice or support? It is only reasonable to expect some young people to initially struggle with the change, therefore to plan ahead for such instances allows everyone to be clear, whilst not putting the whole managed move at risk of breakdown
• Arrangements for recording attendance, as the young person will be dual registered.
• CYPs with medical needs will also need to be carefully assessed, in consultation with health professionals as to the suitability and success of any managed move. The managed move decision making would need ot consider the CYP’s medical health care plan carefully

Everyone will sign the Managed Move agreement which outlines what is expected, what is to be done, and by whom and when.

Managed moves should only occur when it is in the pupil’s best interests (para 47 of Department of Education Suspension & Exclusion Guidance)

• • What are the views, wishes and feelings of the child and parent/carer?
  • Does the child have SEND which would make a change of environment particularly difficult to manage?
  • Is there evidence the child or young person would benefit from a fresh start? Has the child or parents expressed this?
  • Will the managed move arrangements provide a supported start for the child or young person?
  • What evidence is there that the new environment would help the child or young person to engage better with learning?

The school at which the pupil is to trial a managed move (‘host’ school) will place the pupil on their roll as a ‘guest pupil’.  The host school will be required to record all absences and attendances and report these back to the original school (‘main’ school).  

One reason why the main school is required to record all attendances and absences in this way is so that, should the managed move be unsuccessful, the main school will have attendance/absence records which will allow them to consider possible referral to the Local Authority or other services who may be able to offer support

Should a managed move be at risk of breakdown the host school should arrange a review meeting as soon as possible.  At no time should the host school ask the child to leave the school or inform parents that their child has to return to the main school without holding a review meeting to discuss the reasons for the placement breakdown.

If the managed move was used as an attempt to avoid a permanent exclusion, it will be likely that your child will face exclusion on return to the main school or a positive referral to a pupil referral unit.  It would be advisable to have a meeting with the main school and any involved professionals to:-

• Discuss the reason the managed move was unsuccessful
• Consider if the support detailed on the managed move plan was fully implemented
• Check if the plan was reviewed as agreed, and if any concerns raised at the review were addressed.
• Share your child’s views at the meeting to ensure all version of events are captured.

At any time parents may apply to admissions for a change of school place for their child/young person by completing a Mid Year Year application.  If your child is not offered a place at your preferred school, you can appeal against the decision.

A managed move does not take place through Admissions under the Admissions Code.  

You can refer to government guidance School admissions code 2021 (publishing.service.gov.uk) if you have any queries with mid year applications

A managed move is an arrangement agreed between parents and two schools to move a pupil from one school to another. Although this could only take place with your full consent, you would not have a choice of school and no right of parental appeal, it would be a matter for negotiation between the schools.