PROTOCOL FOR
MANAGED MOVES BETWEEN SCHOOLS
Revised: August 2016
CONTENTS
Introduction .
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Guidelines for Managed Moves (MM):
Managed Moves are to be used…..
Brokerage of Managed Moves
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Financial Arrangements .
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Registration and Roll Arrangements
Other Factors
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Appendix 1: Managed Move Guidelines
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INTRODUCTION
A Managed Move is an intervention to support a child to be retained in mainstream
education. Managed Moves recognise the collective responsibility for the placement of
both challenging and vulnerable students.
Current government guidance Exclusion from Maintained Schools, Academies and
Pupil Referral Units (2012) advises school leaders that:
“A pupil can move to another school as part of a ‘managed move’ where this occurs
with the consent of the parties involved, including the parents.”
Sir Alan Steer in his report Learning Behaviour: Lessons Learned. A review of
behaviour standards and practices in our schools (DCSF 2009) described Managed
Moves as:
“… an appropriate strategy to promote the reduction in numbers of pupils being
excluded in mainstream schools. This should be seen as a piece of preventative work
to support pupils at risk of exclusion.”
It is clear that the Managed Moves system has proved very beneficial in many respects,
but there needs to be a clearer formalisation of reporting of all moves, to ensure we
review good practice from successful placements and ensure that placements are fair
and equitable across all schools. It has now been agreed that the Local Authority,
through the Out of School Panel will track and monitor all Managed Moves so that a fair
and transparent system can be maintained.
Managed Moves must:
 involve good communication between the schools, local authority, family and
other agencies engaged with the family.
 be fully understood by pupil and parents/carers
 follow the Guidelines
 be taken into account as part of the Fair Access protocol.
 be reported using the Out of School Referral Form which forms part of the
transfer information to the receiving school.
The permanent exclusion of any pupil has potentially damaging effects on the pupil,
their parents/carers and the school.
Pupils inevitably feel a variety of emotions, which often include rejection, anger and
disaffection. There is also uncertainty around their future education placement. Schools
also experience difficult emotions when a permanent exclusion occurs, in most cases
having used many strategies to support the pupil.
This Managed Moves scheme is aimed at negotiating (between the pupil, parent/carer,
and school) a move of the pupil into a new school, thereby avoiding a permanent
exclusion and also ensuring continuity of education for the pupil. The Head Teacher
would negotiate the move to a suitable school at the same time informing the Out of
School Panel of this action by completing an Out of School Panel Referral.
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The pupil remains on roll of the original (home) school, but has a fresh start and attends
the new school as a “guest pupil”. The Managed Move will have an initial review after 6
weeks (1 term), with a final decision being made no later than after 12 weeks (2 terms)
to determine whether the student can at that point be moved onto the roll of the new
school. If the move does not work s/he would return to the home school.
GUIDELINES FOR MANAGED MOVES (MM)
Managed Moves are to be used:
1)
In the best interest of those pupils who are experiencing difficulties which appear
to be leading towards permanent exclusion, when the full range of pastoral
support strategies (including a Pastoral Support Programme) have been
resourced and tried, but have failed to reach the young person
2)
When a ‘new start’ at another school is seen positively by all concerned and has
not been used as a threat or punishment by the school. A MM is a possible,
negotiated strategy, not an imposition. It aims to keep pupils included who might
otherwise become permanently excluded and further disaffected
3)
Only when the pupil and his/her parents/carers fully understand and agree to
the principles of the Managed Move
4)
On the understanding that this is not normally a ‘1 for 1’ exchange arrangement
between schools, although there may be times when this does occur (if it does,
the ultimate destinations of the two pupils are not connected). What is more
important is that the needs of the young people concerned are being met and
their best interests are being served
5)
With a new Pastoral Support Programme drawn up by the receiving school,
agreed by all concerned, which addresses the particular circumstances and
needs of the pupil
6)
Timescales and process for a Managed Move:
The pupil stays on the roll of the home school (school A) until such time as the
receiving school (school B) reviews the move and agrees to put the pupil on their
own roll (normally within 6 weeks, and a maximum of 12 weeks (2 new terms)
7)
With the knowledge that the School Admissions and Transport Team has been
asked to allow these placements to become permanent in over-subscribed
schools as and when a vacancy may occur. If no vacancy occurs the pupil would
remain on the roll of the original school but continue to attend the new school
8)
Knowing there is a clear understanding that the school accepting the move does
not have to fixed term exclude the young person. If the move fails the original
school retains responsibility for the child until such time as the pupil is found
alternative provision. The Out of School Panel will work alongside the home
school in finding appropriate provision
9)
The process for negotiating the Managed Move is that a Head Teacher or their
representative will talk directly to other Head Teachers. This allows for an
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honest and frank dialogue between the two schools and an accurate
identification of what the potential difficulties might be with a move
Brokerage of Managed Moves
Schools seeking a Managed Move should take no longer than 2 weeks to agree to
proceed.
It will be the responsibility of the Head Teacher to negotiate with his/her colleagues in
local schools. If the child has a Statement of Educational Need or an Educational
Healthcare Plan then the proposed move would need to be discussed as part of an
annual review. This can be called earlier by the school if required. The school would
need to ensure that a SEND Officer is made aware of the review; where possible the
SEND officer will prioritise attendance at such reviews.
If two schools feel that a Managed Move is an option then they need to follow
procedures as detailed in Appendix 1 and ensure that if the Move takes place, a referral
is made to the Out of School Panel with the appropriate Managed Move Section
completed.
It is crucial that both schools keep in close communication with each other throughout
the process and with the parents/carers of the pupil. Parents/carers should be sent a
letter outlining what has been agreed, detailing the arrangements, timescales and
expectations.
The home school needs to provide the receiving school with the following
documentation:






A copy of the completed Out of School Panel Referral form
Pupil’s personal file including PSP, IEP, exclusion, monitoring record, including
strengths, interests and positives
Pupil’s current curriculum and latest reports
Target grades and current grades
All coursework for external exams
Details of any professionals’ involvement and their agencies with full contact
details
Financial Arrangements
Financial arrangements are as follows:

Once the move is agreed from School A to School B, School B should invoice
School A for the pro rata value of the remaining Age Weighted Pupil Unit. This
should apply until the end of the arrangement or the end of the financial year,
whichever is the sooner.

The same applies if the pupil has Top-up funding, the funding moves with the
child. Schools should follow the Top-up Funding Guidance document and notify
the LA of a change of placement, using the “Money Following Pupil Notice”.
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
Once the Move becomes permanent, the Top-up funding will automatically be
allocated to the pupil’s new school.
Registration and Roll Arrangements
Registration and roll arrangements for the duration of the move are as follows:

School A ‘moves’ pupil to School B for full-time placement.

School A keeps the pupil on roll and includes him/her in all attendance statistics,
Local Education Authority Census, Form 7, etc.

School A records the pupil as "dual registered” ‘D’ in the register.

Each school should only record the pupil’s attendance and absence for those
sessions that the pupil is scheduled to attend their school. Schools should
ensure that they have in place arrangements whereby all unexplained and
unexpected absence is followed up in a timely manner.

School B records the pupil as a Guest Pupil in the enrolment status field of the
school’s management information system. This enables the school to allocate
the pupil to a tutor group, register, and generate a timetable. Attendance will
need to be recorded and fed back to School A.

The anticipated duration of the move period would be determined at the time of
the initial agreement and could possibly be amended at review. A short-term
move period should be a maximum of 12 weeks, with a review approximately
halfway through the process.

School B has the final say about the success of the move. If at a review, a shortterm move is deemed a success, the pupil can be taken onto their roll subject to
agreement by the LA School Admission and Transport Team (SATT). The SATT
will process the request alongside any other applications for a place at that
school. If there are no places available, the pupil may remain a guest pupil at the
school and remain on the waiting list for the school until a vacancy occurs within
the school year. The school can also inform the parents that they themselves
may make a formal application to the LA for a school place.

If a MM involves a statemented pupil/ Educational Healthcare Plans (EHCP), the
Special Educational Needs Team needs to be involved in the whole process.
If at any time any move is deemed to have failed, School B must inform the Education
Welfare Service, the Out of School Panel and School A. School A would immediately
resume responsibility for the child’s education, attendance, and Pastoral Support
Programme. School A must set up a readmission meeting within 5 school days and
confirm this in writing to the parent (with a copy to Education Welfare Service).
Other Factors:
1)
Each school needs to identify a single person who will manage all their Managed
Moves, regardless of year group. This will be the Headteacher in Primary
Schools and a member of the Leadership team in a Secondary School.
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2)
A pupil being considered for Managed Move should be on a Pastoral Support
Programme (PSP). Normally at least one PSP would have been resourced, tried,
and failed before a Managed Move is considered. Children looked after by the
Local Authority should have been supported by the designated teacher. Once a
managed move is agreed, a second PSP should be drawn up at School B by
their identified person in conjunction with the member of staff and any outside
agency from School A who were involved in drawing up and reviewing the
original PSP. The same outside professional(s) should be involved throughout to
ensure the best chance of learning from past experiences. It is also possible that
a Parenting Contract can be drawn up between the school and parents.
It is accepted that when a single incident occurs, that would otherwise precipitate
a permanent exclusion, without a background history of significant disruption;
there would not be an existing PSP. One would need to be drawn up to support
the move (involving Social Care if the child is looked after by the Local Authority).
3)
The pupil needs to be fully involved in, and support, the decision to apply for a
Managed Move. There should be time allowed for pupil and parents to reflect on
the suggestion before a move is agreed. Support from key members of staff
within a school can help in this process and could include, Teachers, Learning
Mentor, Parent Support Advisor.
Advice may be available from the following teams:

Educational Psychology Service

Education Welfare

Special Education Needs and Disabilities Team
(SEND)

Community Family Teams
4)
The pupil’s transition into the new school must be on a full time basis, and will
similarly need to be supported with an effective induction process that is
something more than that normally provided to new pupils, to give the move
every chance of success. The key to success is likely to be the pupil feeling an
ownership of the move, prepared for it, and supported in it through regular
meetings to monitor progress.
5)
The choice of school to move into needs to be made on the basis of the parent
accepting the responsibility for getting the pupil to school, i.e. neither schools nor
the LA is liable for funding transport, however in very exceptional circumstances
this may be considered.
Pupils eligible for free school meals in School A should be enabled to access
them in School B.
6)
If a pupil is fixed term excluded whilst the MM is being explored, the home school
are responsible for ensuring 6th day full time education for the pupil.
Schools need to keep the pupil in school unless fixed term excluding whilst
Managed Move is being looked into.
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7)
There is no additional funding (other than moving Top-up Funding if the pupil
already has Top-up Funding in place) available from the LA. There may be
access to advice via the teams listed in point 3.
8)
For pupils with Statements of Special Educational Need/Educational Healthcare
Plans (EHCP), School B will be provided with a copy of the plan and related
reports in advance to indicate that whilst on roll of School A, they are currently
receiving their education at School B.
9)
School A therefore remains responsible for calling, in conjunction with School B,
any Annual Review or Transitional Review (and for drawing up the Transition
Plan) that may fall due during the period of move. School A must call an interim
Annual Review meeting near the end of a short term move period if the move is
proving successful and the placement is likely to be made permanent. The
SEND Officer should be informed. The Local Authority will formally consult
School B on receipt of these review papers.
10)
Schools will need to determine how they will monitor and evaluate the success of
each move at the outset of the arrangement. This needs to be shared with the
pupil and their parents/carer.
11)
If there are behaviour problems in the receiving school only the Headteacher of
School A can exclude the pupil (and it may be that any need to consider
exclusion warrants the termination of the move).
12)
Not all pupils will be suitable candidates for a Managed Move. A Managed Move
is part of a continuum of provision. Permanent exclusions may still be
appropriate in extreme cases but we would hope to find alternatives whenever
possible.
Contact:
Peter Noble
Education Welfare Lead
Prevention and Re-engagement Service
People and Communities
North Somerset Council
Town Hall
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1UJ
Telephone: 01275 888686
Email: [email protected]
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Appendix 1 - North Somerset Managed Moves Guidelines
Has there been a detailed Pastoral Support Plan
(PSP) in place offering additional support?
Yes
No
Implement PSP
Have there been detailed conversations
and agreement with parents/carers and
pupil about a Managed Move?
No
Review PSP with Parents
and Pupil
Yes
Head teacher (School A) contacts other Head teacher (School B) re MM. There has to be joint
agreement between schools. At this stage an Out of School Referral is completed, setting out
information for the receiving School in the Managed Move.
Head teacher (School A) informs EWS who advise on process if needed.
School A and B agree on MM – Meet and discuss with parents and pupil. Agree timescale, set
dates for review meetings, and agree an action plan, set out expectations and measures of success.
Discuss how the pupil will get to school and record all discussion.
Share copies of notes from the meeting with parents and pupil.
School completes Top-up Funding form to transfer funding to new school.
School A informs ‘School Admissions and Transport Team’ directly and completes Managed
Move form to inform Out of School Panel for monitoring purposes.
Compl


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School B call PSP Meeting at School
School A staff attend
Professionals invited by school A/B
6 & 12 Week Reviews
If unsuccessful, pupil returns to School A
who arrange a new PSP and decide on next steps
If successful, pupil moves to
School B
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