Off Site Direction

Direction off-site is different to a managed move because directing a pupil off-site for their education with a view to improving their behaviour, is a specific power given to maintained schools under s.29(3) of the Education Act 2002 and is time limited.

This means the school have the power to direct your child off site but it should only be used to improve their behaviour and where in-school interventions and/or outreach have been unsuccessful. 

A managed move is an agreement made between parent, child and school and leads to the transfer of a pupil to another mainstream school permanently.  

This means that you do not have to agree to a managed move.  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.  Read our information on Managed Moves

It is important that if your child’s school is proposing to send them to another setting for their education, that you clarify with them the legal basis in which they are proposing the move ie. is it a managed move or an off site direction?

Yes. Under regulations, the governing body of maintained schools must give parents (and the local authority – for a pupil with an EHC plan) notice in writing that their child will be directed off-site. This notice should be shared with parents as soon as practicable once the decision has been taken, and not less than two school days before they are due to start at the alternative provision.

This written notice should include-

• the address of where educational provision is to be provided;
• information identifying the person to whom the pupil should report to on their first day;
• the reasons for and objectives of directing the pupil off site; and
• the times at which they are expected to attend.

Depending on the individual needs and circumstances of the pupil, direction off-site can be full-time into alternative provision or a combination of part-time support in alternative provision.

The placement off site must be kept under review and involve parents in the review. Parents must receive a written invitation no later than 6 days before the date of any review meeting, inviting you to attend the meeting or to submit in writing your views before the meeting. This is your opportunity to share whether you feel off-site direction should continue to have effect. The regulations specify regular reviews must be held but does not specify how often these should take place, and this should be decided on an individual basis. Reviews should be frequent enough to provide assurance that off-site education is achieving its objective and that the pupil is benefitting from it. These reviews should be recorded in writing.

To support a pupil to reintegrate back into their school, the focus of intervention whilst off-site should remain on ensuring that a pupil continues to receive a broad and balanced curriculum, whilst any inappropriate behaviours which require intervention are being addressed.

It is useful to clarify what the school’s re-integration strategy will be for supporting your child to return to their original school.

School suspensions and permanent exclusions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

A proposed maximum period of time should be discussed and agreed upon as part of the planning phase for an off-site direction. As part of planning, alternative options should be considered once the time limit has been reached, including a managed move on a permanent basis (if a pupil is placed in a mainstream school) upon review of the time limited placement

As part of planning, alternative options may be considered if the time limit has been reached, this may include a managed move on a permanent basis.   

It is important that everyone’s views are shared – schools, parent and child or young person to fully explore all options and next steps.  If the school are suggesting a permanent move, this may mean that a managed move will be considered.    Parents, child and school all have to agree for a managed move to be implemented.  Read our information on Managed Moves.