MANAGED
MOVES
A step-by-step guide
for Northumberland
schools
CONTENTS
1.
Step-by-step guide.
2.
Managed Moves – Guidance agreed with Northumberland schools.
3.
Managed Moves request form.
4.
Pro-forma A – to be completed by new school and forwarded to Head of
Service, EOTAS.
5.
Pro-forma B – to be completed by new school and forwarded to the
Headteacher of the
original school.
6.
Pro-forma C – to be completed by new school and forwarded to the Head
of Service, EOTAS.
MANAGED MOVES: A STEP BY STEP GUIDE
Managed moves sometimes known as 'supported transfers', can be a useful tool to avoid
permanent exclusion and should be considered as a strategy prior to permanent exclusion.
Please see attached guidance which has been adopted by the Schools Forum.
1
Review meeting at original school considers strategies already used to avoid permanent exclusion and
explains the managed moved process to parents so they fully understand what it involves. If parents are in
agreement:
2
Original school contacts LEA Admissions Team to clarify place availability in relevant year group in
neighbouring schools. Places will be held by Admissions Team in 2 neighbouring schools for 2 weeks. N.B.
please ensure parents understand LEA transport responsibilities outlined in 2.1.1.
3
Headteacher of original school makes contact with headteacher in potential receiving school, discusses the
pupil (honestly and openly) and secures agreement in principle to the transfer.
4
Headteacher of original school and parents complete the Managed Move Request Form (enclosed) and
forward to the Head of Service, Education Other Than at School, Education Directorate, County Hall,
Morpeth.
5
Head of Service, EOTAS, copies Managed Move Request form to the LEA's Admissions Team, who
provisionally register child at the new school (subject to successful 4 week trial).
6
Head of Service, EOTAS, forwards Managed Move Request Form and confirms, in writing, to parents, that
new school will be contacting them regarding admission.
7
Headteacher of new school meets parents and pupil to outline expectations and discuss support for the pupil
(see 2.1.5).
8
Supported transfer meeting takes place at new school (2.1.6). New school then returns completed pro-forma
A to Head of Service, EOTAS, to confirm receipt of Managed Move Request Form and date of
commencement of 4 week trial period. Pro-forma B is forwarded by the new school to the original school to
ensure records are transferred.
9
e
Following successful trial, the new school returns completed pro-forma C to Head of Service, EOTAS, to
confirm permanent transfer should proceed.
10
Head of Service, EOTAS, liaises with Education Officer, Planning and Resources, who will confirm transfer
of funding to both original and new schools.
11
The pupil's progress in the new school is reviewed after a further 4 weeks and then at least half-termly until
the pupil is considered to be settled.
NORTHUMBERLAND LEA
“MANAGED MOVES” – GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Schools, parents and pupils have used a “fresh start” in a new school as a formal or
informal alternative to permanent exclusion for many years. A change of school can be
particularly valuable if it is perceived that a pupil’s difficulties are the result of inappropriate
peer relationships or if the relationship of trust between parent and school has broken down.
Experience suggests that when these moves are arranged between the schools themselves
(usually at headteacher level) and when they are carefully managed, they have more chance
of achieving a successful outcome for the pupil than when the parents attempt to identify an
alternative school for their child and to make the transfer arrangements themselves. It is the
view of the LEA that ‘managed moves’ should only be considered when all other
strategies have been tried and exhausted. The move should be arranged at
headteacher level in order to optimise the chances of a successful outcome for the
pupil.
1.2
The DfES statutory guidance on exclusion (January 2003 and March 2004) promoted
the use of ‘managed moves’ as an alternative to permanent exclusion and there is evidence
that this practice is increasing.
1.3
It is the view of the LEA that ‘managed moves’ can be a useful tool to avoid
permanent exclusion but that such moves must be carefully prepared and implemented if the
pupil’s difficulties are not to be exacerbated leaving the receiving school with no option but to
permanently exclude – sometimes within a few days of the pupil starting.
1.4
This Guidance does not apply to pupils moving in and out of PRUs. Such pupils will
usually be subject to dual registration and the PRUs have their own guidance for schools on
pupils who are accepted for respite at a PRU or who are being reintegrated to mainstream
school.
2.
GOOD PRACTICE TO BE FOLLOWED
2.1
The following points should be cross-referenced with the accompanying ‘step-bystep guide.
2.1.1
2.1.2
Meeting at original school with parents/carers and pupil reviews the
strategies to avoid permanent exclusion which have already been
implemented and agrees that the best way forward is to seek a “fresh start” at
a new school. Pupil and parental preferences are sought and the realities of
the situation discussed. Parents should be made fully aware of their
responsibilities regarding transport (see below) and uniform if a change of
school is arranged. Minutes of the meeting, including a full record of the
other strategies which have been used to try to prevent exclusion, are kept
on pupil’s file. It may be appropriate to invite other adults who have been
involved with the pupil to this meeting and, in some cases, the Headteacher
may wish to have a member of the Governing Body present (see Appendix
A).
TRANSPORT: The LEA will apply the same principles with respect to
transport as it does in the case of permanent exclusion i.e. it will accept
responsibility for the cost of transport to the next nearest school with a place
available, provided this school lies outside the relevant distances specified in
the Home to School Transport Policy. This acceptance of financial
responsibility will, however, apply only until the end of the school phase the
youngster is in at the time of transfer. It is the responsibility of the
Headteacher of the original school to make parents aware of this; to ensure
that they are aware that the pupil will be expected to access the existing
transport network, including public transport, if this meets the journey
requirements and that, should they, at some future point, be excluded from
this transport because of their failure to adhere to the established code of
2.1.3
2.1.4
2.1.5
2.1.6
2.1.7
2.1.8
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2.1.9
conduct for acceptable behaviour, it will then become the parents’
responsibility to ensure that they continue to attend school. N.B. the LEA
reserves the right to exercise discretion over the funding of transport
arrangements for Looked After Children.
The Headteacher makes contact with the ‘new school’, discusses the pupil
openly and honestly and secures the school’s agreement to transfer in
principle.
Parents are requested to complete the LEA Managed Moved Request Form.
The original school sends this, with accompanying paperwork to the LEA
(addressed to the Head of Service, Education Other Than At School),
including (as a minimum) the pupil’s attendance record, conduct log, copies
of any IEPs or Pastoral Support Plans and current academic attainment data,
along with the minutes of the meeting where the decision to seek a managed
move was taken (see 2.1.1above).
The new school interviews parents and pupil. At this meeting, as well as the
expectations of the new school and general arrangements for transfer and
induction (e.g. uniform requirements, times of school day etc), the pupil’s
support needs should be discussed.
A ‘supported transfer’ meeting is held at the new school with the parents,
representatives of the original school and adults who attended the initial
planning meeting (bullet point one above) invited to attend. The purpose of
the meeting is to agree the type of support from that which could be
available, which will optimise the transfer’s success chances (see Section 3
below).
The transfer is agreed and both schools inform their EWO. (The pupil
remains on the original school’s roll until official notification has been
received that the pupil is on roll at the receiving school: this will normally be
after the 4 week trial period has been completed (see N.B.below)).
The pupil is offered a start date at the receiving school and their full record is
transferred from the original school. This must include all records relating to
Child Protection concerns which may have been held separately from the
child’s main school record. The following should have been agreed and
shared with the pupil and parents before the pupil joins the school – it would
be good practice for these issues to be discussed at a second meeting
between the parent/pupil and the new school when parents/pupil have had a
chance to reflect on the initial interview and may have more questions and/or
anxieties:
Timetable/class group
Information re uniform, equipment required etc
Home/School agreements
Support arrangements – including any peer support
Travel/FSM arrangements
Induction programme – including policies and procedures relating to
attendance and punctuality, behaviour , homework
The pupil’s progress should be reviewed with parents after the first four
weeks and
then on a half-termly basis until the pupil is considered well-settled. Transfer
of funding between the schools will be arranged by the LEA after it has
received confirmation from the receiving school that the move is to be a
permanent one i.e. usually after a satisfactory four week trial.
2.2
Evidence from other LEAs suggests that if the move is not properly planned and, in
particular if parental or pupil wishes have not been fully considered, then, the ‘managed
move’ is not likely to be successful. It is essential that the transferring pupil should be well
supported by the new school during the transition period. This should include as a minimum
entitlement: access to a specialist behaviour mentor or teacher in order to address behaviour
concerns and peer support through a buddy or mentoring scheme. (More detail is given in 3
below).
3.
SUPPORT FOR PUPILS
3.1
The following could be considered as support for transferring pupils. The list is not
exhaustive and the support can be “mixed and matched” in order to provide an appropriate
individualised package:
 Access to the SENCO or specialist SEN teacher for baseline testing and needs
assessment
 Specialist SEN teaching support
 Access to a Behaviour Support Teacher
 Access to the school’s assigned Educational Psychologist
 Access to a Connexions PA
 Access to small group support in e.g. social skills or anger management.
 Access to a counsellor
 Access to classroom assistant support
 Support through a Learning Support Unit
 Peer support – e.g. a buddy
 In school support procedures such as report cards, access to a named teacher etc
 Access to after school clubs and activities
4.
FUNDING
4.1
The LEA does not hold any funding centrally to support ‘managed moves’. All such
funding has been delegated to schools.
4.2
When a pupil is to be the subject of a ‘managed move’, it is suggested that the
headteacher of the original school provides both the new school and the LEA with the
following information:
 Date of birth for AWPU funding purposes and, if applicable;
 Confirmation of entitlement to free school meals
 Amount of additional funding available through Statement of SEN
The LEA will then calculate the funding available and will inform both schools of the amount of
money to be transferred. The transfer of funds would be based on the date of transfer, as
follows:
Where a pupil moves schools under an approved Managed Move, the budget shares of the
two schools shall be adjusted, with money being transferred from the original school to the
new school. The date of transfer will be the date when the transfer is agreed as permanent.
The amount of money to be transferred will be identical to the financial adjustments had the
pupil been permanently excluded, as detailed in Appendix B.
4.4
The receiving school should also consider using “in-house” support for example
learning or behaviour mentors, LSUs etc
5.
PRACTICE TO BE AVOIDED
5.1
Advising parents to remove their child from roll and “find another school”: this would
generally constitute an ‘unmanaged’ move’ which this guidance is seeking to avoid. Even if a
school is aware that parents are considering a change of school for their child, they should
not remove the child from their roll unless they have absolute confirmation that that child has
been admitted to another school.
5.2
Advising parents to remove their child from roll and “educate otherwise”. In practice
unless parents are seeking to “educate otherwise” for philosophical, ideological or religious
reasons, the education provided is rarely “suitable or efficient”.
5.3
“Tit for Tat” – when schools agree to exchange pupils without due consideration being
given to parental and pupil views and preferences not individual support needs.
5.4
Transferring children without adequate induction or support.
APPENDIX A
Other professionals who may be involved with pupils and their parents/carers who could be
involved at any stage during the “managed move” process:
SENCO
Mentor or Classroom Assistant
Designated teacher with responsibility for Child Protection/ Looked After Children
Connexions PA
Assigned Educational Psychologist
Member of the Looked After Children’s Education (ESLAC) team
Reintegration Officer
Exclusions Officer
Behaviour Support Teacher
Education Welfare Officer
Social Worker
LSU Manager
YOT Worker
Representative from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
APPENDIX B
FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS FOR PERMANENTLY EXCLUDED PUPILS
1.
Following the Permanent Exclusion of a Pupil
Regulations require that, where a pupil is permanently excluded, the school’s budget
share shall be reduced by
A x B
52
where A = AWPU value appropriate to the age of the pupil at the time of
exclusion, or £3,019 in 2006/07 (£3,131 in 2007/08) where the
pupil is a pupil for whom grant is payable to the Authority by the
LSC. This will also include, where appropriate based upon the
position of that pupil on the previous January’s PLASC return,
any additional funding relating to a Statement of Special
Educational Needs, the additional funding based upon eligibility
for free school meals and the additional pupil-led funding for
Boarding provision. It will also include where appropriate any
financial incentive previously received to admit that pupil as an
excluded pupil; and
B = number of complete weeks remaining in the financial year.
However, where an exclusion takes place between 1 April and
31 August and the pupil was due to leave that school by
31 August (e.g. the pupil is in Year 4 in a First School, Year 8 in
a Middle School or Year 11 or Year 13 in a High School),
B = number of complete weeks until 31 August.
NB
The AWPU value for the appropriate age group (plus, where
appropriate based upon the position of that pupil on the previous
January’s PLASC return, any additional Special Educational Needs
funding, Free Meal funding and pupil-led Boarding funding) will be
used where a pupil is permanently excluded from a Special School,
even though the level of pupil-led funding is much lower.
2.
Following the Admission of Permanently Excluded Pupil
Regulations require that, where a school admits a pupil previously permanently excluded
from another school, their budget share shall be increased by
D x E
F
where D = the amount of budget share removed from the school excluding
the pupil in that financial year;
E = number of complete weeks remaining in the financial year
following the admission of the pupil; and
F = number of complete weeks remaining in the financial year
following the date of exclusion of the pupil from the previous
school.
Date Received by LEA
MANAGED MOVES REQUEST FORM
This application form should only be completed in the case of a request for a managed move. This
form should be completed jointly by the Headteacher of the original school and the parent(s) of the
child.
It should be completed in black ink and in block capitals.
The completed form should be returned to the Head of Service, Education Other Than at School,
County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF
Details of child
Last Name:
Date of birth:
First Name(s):
Boy or girl:
Present school:
Does your child have a Statement of Special Educational Need or is he/she currently
being assessed?
Yes / No
Details of parent(s) or carer(s)
Mother/female carer’s name:
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone
number:
Father/male carer’s name:
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone
number:
With whom does the child normally live?
Preferences
1.
First preference of school
2.
Second preference of school
3.
Third preference of school
PTO
Further information
Yes / No
Is your child in public care (i.e. looked after by the Council)?
If yes, please give name of social worker
Please indicate your relationship to the child by ticking one of the following
Parent
Legal Guardian
Foster Carer
Social worker
Full name (please print):
Signed:
Date:
Home to School Transport
The LEA will apply the same principles with respect to transport as it does in the case of
permanent exclusion i.e. it will accept responsibility for the cost of transport to the next nearest
school with a place available, provided this school lies outside the relevant distances specified in
the Home to School Transport Policy. This acceptance of financial responsibility will, however,
apply only until the end of the school phase the youngster is in at the time of transfer. Pupils
subject to a managed move will be expected to access the existing transport network, including
public transport, if this meets the journey requirements and that, should they, at some future
point, be excluded from this transport because of their failure to adhere to the established code
of conduct for acceptable behaviour, it will then become your responsibility as parent to ensure
that your child continues to attend school.
N.B. the LEA reserves the right to exercise discretion over the funding of transport
arrangements for Looked After Children.
For Office Use Only
SCHOOL ONLY
Received
LEA ONLY
School
Student ID
Y Gp Update
DL Sent
PAN
Y Gp Confirmed
Outcome
Criteria
1
2
3
Dear
RE:
- Managed Move
Further to your request that your child transfer to
School, I am writing to confirm that
, Headteacher, has agreed in principle to the transfer, subject to a successful 4 week trial period.
You should be contacted shortly by the school with an invitation to visit in order to discuss the
transfer process.
Yours sincerely
Head of Service
Education Other Than at School
for Director of Children’s Services
MANAGED MOVE
PRO FORMA A
To be completed by new school to confirm 4 week trial.
PUPIL'S NAME
D.O.B.
ADDRESS
ORIGINAL SCHOOL
NEW SCHOOL
I confirm receipt of the Managed Move Request Form and attached documentation for the
above pupil.
A managed move has been agreed in principle, subject to a satisfactory 4 week trial period.
Date of commencement of 4 week trial _________________________________
HEADTEACHER'S NAME
_____________
HEADTEACHER'S SIGNATURE
DATE
______________
Please return to: Head of Service, Education Other Than at School, Education Directorate,
County Hall, Morpeth NE61 2EF.
RECEIVED, DATE
COPIED TO ADMISSIONS, DATE
COPIED TO ORIGINAL SCHOOL, DATE
MANAGED MOVE
PRO FORMA B
To be completed by new school to ensure transfer of pupil's school record and Common
Transfer File.
PUPIL'S NAME
D.O.B.
ADDRESS
ORIGINAL SCHOOL
_
NEW SCHOOL
The above pupil is to be the subject of a managed move. If the 4 week trial period, is
satisfactory, this will become permanent. I would be grateful if the pupil's full school record
could be forwarded and their Common Transfer File be transferred, to their new school. N.B.
During the 4 week trial period, the pupil will remain on the roll of the original school and
should not be logged as a leaver. However, although not on the roll of the new school at
this stage, a place has been reserved for the pupil should the trial period be successful.
HEADTEACHER'S SIGNATURE
DATE
Please return to: Headteacher of Original School.
_________
MANAGED MOVE
PRO FORMA C
To be completed by new school to confirm permanent transfer.
PUPIL'S NAME
N.C. YEAR (N-Y13)
D.O.B.
If not full-time, please state number of sessions attended __
ADDRESS
_
_
ORIGINAL SCHOOL
NEW SCHOOL
I confirm that, following a 4 week trial period, the above pupil's permanent transfer should now
take place. Please arrange for the appropriate transfer of funding.
FORMAL DATE OF TRANSFER
HEADTEACHER'S NAME
SIGNATURE
DATE
____________
Please return to: Head of Service, Education Other Than at School, Education Directorate,
County Hall, Morpeth NE61 2EF
RECEIVED,DATE
COPIED TO ADMISSIONS, DATE
COPIED TO FINANCE, DATE