Southwark managed move protocol - best practice

The context for managed moves

A managed move should never be an early or first response when a child is failing at school because of his behaviour, unless that behaviour places the child at imminent risk of permanent exclusion. There is an expectation that the school will have considered accessing support from appropriate services, convened an alternative to exclusion TAF meeting and/or referred to FEH for support where a family meets the criteria for a service.

A managed move should be considered as part of a measured response to supporting a young person’s emotional, social and behavioural needs. It is an appropriate strategy to consider in the later stages of a pastoral support plan (PSP) where there is little or no evidence of progress. A managed move would not normally be appropriate when:

1. A child has a history of persistent absence
2. A parent is seeking a straightforward transfer to another school
3. The child is not on a school roll
4. The child would not return to the home school if the placement is unsuccessful

A managed move can take place in year 11. However, the home school should retain overall responsibility for the student and responsibility for exam results.

Criteria for managed moves

Occasionally a managed move to another school is suggested as a solution to issues raised in a Social Care or FEH assessment and would be appropriate if the following criteria are met:

1. The child was previously highlighted to the local authority Education Inclusion Team as being at risk of permanent exclusion
2. The school, family and EIT manager shares the view that the home school has, at present, exhausted all reasonable strategies to prevent a permanent exclusion
3. The school, family and the EIT manager share the view that the proposed 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 particular issues at the home school. There should be a clear audit of the child’s strengths and capabilities that can form the core of a transition plan in the proposed school
4. The family is committed to supporting the process

Head teachers should consider the use of managed moves in the context of the following:

1. The school’s behaviour and SEN policies which include a commitment to a range of responses to breaches of the school’s behaviour policy including pastoral support plans (PSP) or equivalent and referrals for support to FEH or Children’s Social Care if appropriate
2. Current government guidance 

Before setting up a managed move, school staff should ensure that they have followed the SEN Code of Practice so that the child has a clearly identified individual and/or pastoral support plan and that a range of strategies has been tried which involve outside agencies as appropriate, including FEH, the link SEND officer or the education psychologist (EP). In a small number of cases, a crisis may precipitate unexpected and challenging behaviour. In such cases, a managed move may supersede a referral to FEH and other assessments of interventions.

Best practice for managed moves

Managed move processes, timescales and meetings are broadly similar to those recommended for PSPs with some key differences. The head teacher or nominated spokesperson should contact the parents and the LA to agree the appropriateness of the managed move in the first instance. It is important at this stage that parents understand the process and their responsibilities.

Although managed moves can be arranged between schools and parents without LA input, we recommend that prior to agreeing to such a move that a consultation is held with a member of the EIT to review the appropriateness of a managed move and ensure that appropriate support is offered to the family to maximise the likelihood of a successful transfer. It is important at this stage that parents understand the process and their continued responsibilities to ensure attendance and promote positive behaviour. If parents and the school agree that a managed move is appropriate, the head teacher is responsible for contacting the head teacher of the proposed school to request the move, setting out reasons why the move might work. This should generally be the next appropriate school to the child’s home, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The proposed school can exceed its indicated admission number to accommodate a managed move. Once a proposed school has agreed to the move in principle, it is recommended that the head teachers discuss financial arrangements prior to the formal managed move meeting. The LA is unable to arrange the transfer of funds on behalf of schools. Financial arrangements should be confirmed and conducted by schools, if appropriate, following the initial and final managed move meetings.

Managed move Team Around the Family meeting

Before convening the meeting, the home school should gather information to inform the managed move TAF meeting. While it is expected that that child should attend some (if not all) of the meeting, a professional from the home school should also accompany the child who should be encouraged to express their views freely and honestly. This may be difficult to do this during the formal meeting. Therefore, an adult who has a good rapport with the child should find out what he thinks about the current situation. It may be useful to have the parent or another adult not employed by the home school to help the child prepare a written statement or complete the questionnaire whenever possible.

Evidence of all previous interventions such as copies of existing plans, reviews, behaviour logs and consequences, behaviour analysis, previous exclusion history, evaluation of any strategies suggested by the SENCO and/or EP, attendance record and support and, if appropriate, a looked after child’s personal education plan. The most recent assessment and attainment data, and the child’s options record if in Key Stage 4 is also required.

The home school should summarise the support from any relevant agency already supporting the child. The key aspect of this evidence is the previous and current action on the part of the school to deal with the behaviour. The managed move will only make a difference if it can provide something additional to current provision. It is recommended that the head teachers of both schools attend all managed move meetings. It may help for an additional key member of school staff to attend to coordinate the support for the transfer. If the child is not already receiving support from the LA in the form of a FEH, Social Care or Youth Justice intervention, it is strongly recommended that a referral is made to FEH in order that the needs of the young person are screened and appropriate early help support can be offered to the young person and family. 

The home school is responsible for inviting parents, the EIT manager and appropriate outside agencies to the meeting giving ample advanced notice. The home school may also liaise with the proposed school to invite professionals from other agencies who are working with or may be able to support the parents, child and the school to make the managed move work. Wherever possible the meeting should be held during the school working day. Parents are a crucial part of the managed move process and the school should try to arrange a time when it is convenient for the parents to attend the meetings.

The managed move meetings are usually held at the proposed school. The school hosting the meeting needs to:

1. Book a suitable room with comfortable, level seating and a table
2. Ensure refreshments are available - water as a minimum
3. Offer parents and the child the opportunity to make notes during the meeting by providing pens and paper
4. Provide an information pack for the family about the school including key policies and relevant dates
5. Where possible, show the student around the school with the parent, giving them the opportunity to see and experience the school day in the new school

The purpose of the managed move meeting is to summarise the reasons for recommending the move, what is hoped that it will achieve, clear targets for the child and to affirm commitments by both schools and the parents (along with any other agency represented) to make the move successful. One of the targets will normally be for the child to match the attendance target of the proposed school. There must be clearly outlined timelines including what will happen if the move is successful or not successful, such as:

1. Attendance
2. Lateness and punctuality
3. Homework
4. Attitude to learning

If the managed move is completed successfully, the responsibility for transport funding always passes to parents from the date the child transfers to the proposed school.

The home school will provide finance for branded school uniform of the proposed school.

At the conclusion of the meeting, everyone should be clear about what is to be done, by whom and by when. A date for the 12-week review meeting will be set. School staff should agree with parents on whether and for how long the child should attend the meeting. Generally:

1. A child at secondary school will attend the whole meeting
2. A child in primary years will join the meeting after the adults have agreed the main elements of the support plan
3. It may not be appropriate for a child in infant years to come to a managed move meeting at all. The child’s parent or class teacher will need to talk to the child after the meeting

In some cases, the child may be too upset, anxious or angry to agree any commitments. This is normal and should not prevent the managed move going ahead if the family and relevant professionals agree it is the appropriate way forward. Parents are central to the process and need to be present at meetings and willing to make a commitment to the managed move. In exceptional circumstances, a school can make a decision to reconvene the meeting. After the initial meeting and each review, the head teacher will need to make sure all relevant staff understands what has been agreed upon. A managed move runs typically for 12 school weeks to ensure the child has the opportunity to meet the targets consistently. A formal review is held at around 4 weeks. In exceptional circumstances, the plan can be extended for a further 4 to 8 weeks.

The proposed school will need to be prepared to commit additional support from within the school resources as part of the managed move.

The role of the EIT Practitioner/SEWO at the meeting

An EIT practitioner should always be present at managed move meetings to formalise the agreement and be able to offer advice and guidance in relation to local authority services on behalf of the LA. The practitioner will:

1. Generally, lead the managed move meeting and take brief notes on what is said as a record of the agreement between all parties
2. Circulate a typed copy of the agreement to everyone who attended
3. Inform the in-year admissions team
4. Provide data to the Education Inclusion Team and LA for the purposes of the annual exclusion report
5. Confirm any additional support that will be provided by the LA

The aim of the managed move meeting is to ensure:

1. The voice of the parent and child is heard and they can be clear about the next steps
2. The new school placement is clear about the strengths and weaknesses of the pupil and any issues that will impact on attendance or achievement
3. The family are clear about opportunities and choices in the new school
4. Family background is shared openly and transparently, recognising its influence on success at this transition point
5. A high support/high challenge approach is taken to ensure accountability for all
6. At the conclusion of the meeting, everyone must clear about what is to be done, by whom and by when. A date for the review will then be agreed upon. After this initial meeting and following each review the head teacher of the proposed school will need to make sure that all relevant staff understand what has been agreed

Page last updated: 16 January 2023