Arranging managed moves

This page provides information and advice on best practice for arranging a managed move for a pupil.

This guide applies to both maintained schools and academies.

A managed move is a voluntary agreement between the school, parents and child for the child to attend an alternative school or a different education programme under controlled circumstances.

When is it appropriate? 

• A managed move may be used as an alternative to a permanent exclusion. 
• A managed move may be appropriate where the pupil is refusing to attend school.
• A managed move may be appropriate where the school cannot meet the child’s Special Educational Needs.

What is required?

There is no statutory scheme or department guidance governing managed moves. We strongly recommend that schools use the below framework when implementing managed moves. 

There are a number of stages which can be followed as an example of good practice:

• The school should appoint a facilitator to oversee the managed move;
• The head teacher and facilitator prior to speaking with the parent’s should consider the alternatives available to the child;
• The head teacher should write to the parents of the child proposing the managed move stating the reasons for why it would be appropriate; 
• The facilitator should locate schools or Pupil Referral Units in the local area who would be willing to admit the child as part of a managed move arrangement. Parents can put forward schools they believe would be appropriate for a managed move;
• The facilitator meets with the parents to discuss the options available to the child and explain why a managed move would be appropriate; and
• The school should facilitate a managed move meeting which should be attended by facilitator, a member of staff from the current school, the parents of the child and the child.  

The function of the managed move meeting would be to finalise the managed move arrangement.

In order for there to be a managed move, all parties must consent to the move and all parties should sign a managed move agreement. 

What should be in the managed move agreement?

There are a number of points which can be followed as an example of good practice:

• The agreement should stipulate when the managed move is to begin; 
• The agreement should stipulate the school, college or Pupil Referral Unit the pupil will move to;
• The agreement should name a person responsible for the agreement. 

What types of managed moves are available?

• A transfer to an alternative school or college. 
• Part-time attendance at the current school.
• Full-time attendance at a Pupil Referral Unit with the condition the child returns to the current school or a new school or college in the foreseeable future. 
• Part-time attendance at a Pupil Referral Unit.
• Home education due to child’s Special Educational Needs.
• It is possible to defer the managed move, for example, the managed move will only come into affect if the child fails to meet conditions set in the managed move agreement. 

Trial period at managed move school

The pupil should initially attend the managed move school on a trial period and during this time they remain on the school roll of the transferring school. If at the end of this trial period, the managed school decide that the trial was successful, they can initiate a formal transfer. However, the managed move school can decide to terminate the managed move and in this case the transferring school must accept the pupil back.