What is a managed move?

A managed move is where a pupil permanently moves from one mainstream school to another and can be used to give pupils at risk of permanent exclusion a fresh start. 

They are voluntary moves, that should only occur when it is in the pupil’s best interests.

Your child’s school should be able to show that they have tried appropriate initial interventions first such as assessments of your child’s needs and arranging any relevant support.

A managed move is different to an off-site direction or a managed transfer. An off-site direction is where a pupil is sent to temporarily attend another educational setting for the purpose of improving their behaviour, before returning to their school. You can find out more information on off-site directions below. Some areas also send pupils to an alternative provision Academy or pupil referral unit, not to another mainstream school, and call this a ‘managed transfer’.

Do parents have to agree?

No. Managed moves require the consent of the parents, the school the child is moving from, and the school they are moving to.

You should not feel pressure to agree to a managed move, such as your child’s school saying they will permanently exclude them if you don’t agree to a managed move. Your child’s school can only lawfully exclude a pupil for a disciplinary reason, not because of a parent’s refusal to agree to a managed move.

If you feel you are being pressurised or are unhappy about a proposed move, you can make a complaint to the school’s governing body. We explain how in the link below.

If you want your child to remain at the current school, you may wish to discuss off-site direction or other appropriate interventions with the Headteacher/Principal, as well as putting in place any further support needed to enable your child to remain at the current school.

If you do not agree with the managed move to the school which is being proposed, but there is another school you think would be suitable for your child, you can apply yourself for a place at a new school by making an “in-year application.” However, if your child has an EHC plan, a move to a different school must be dealt with through the legal process for amending the plan.

What happens if we do agree to a managed move?

If everyone agrees the move should happen, then the two schools should make sure all relevant information about your child is shared. Once the move has happened, your child’s name will come off the out-going school’s register and go onto the new school’s register.  There should not be a trial period. 

If your child has special educational needs and is receiving SEN Support, this should continue in the new school. The new school must do all that it can to meet your child’s special educational needs. This is called the ‘best endeavours’ duty.

If your child has an EHC plan, then the out-going school should contact the local authority before the managed move. The local authority will need to amend Section I of the EHC plan to name the new school once the move has happened. To do that, it will need to follow the legal process for amending the plan, including giving you time to make comments on a draft version. Once the new mainstream school is named in the EHC plan, it will have a duty to admit your child.

For more information on these topics, please see:

Mainstream schools

School suspensions and permanent exclusions guidance which explains how managed moves should happen.

Directing pupils off-site 

Taking action when things go wrong with/at a nursery, school or college 

What are special educational needs

The ‘best endeavours’ duty

Changing an EHC plan

My child has an EHC plan which names a school. However, the school is refusing to admit them. Can schools refuse to admit children with EHC plans? What can I do? FAQ which explains the duty to admit.