Transfers and transitions

It is important for the child or young person to be prepared for the transfer or transition and schools can support you through the process by offering reasonable adjustments and transition tools.

In-year transfers

In-year transfers are where you as a family have decided that it is best for the child or young person to transfer to a new setting during the academic school year. This is often due to a change of address and wanting to be closer to the school but can also be to support a fresh start if the child or young person has had some negative experiences at their previous school, such as bullying.

To apply for an in-year transfer you need to contact your local council admissions team, and they can guide you through the procedures.

Managed moves

A managed move is the transfer of a child who is at serious risk of permanent exclusion from their school. It is a voluntary agreement between two schools, a child and their parents or carers. It allows a child at risk of permanent exclusion to have a trial transfer to another school on a dual registration basis.

Current government guidance (Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England - Statutory guidance for those with legal responsibilities in relation to exclusion 2017) advises school leaders that:

A pupil at any type of school can also transfer to another school as part of a ‘managed move’

Where this occurs with the consent of the parties involved, including the parents and the admission authority of the school. However, the threat of exclusion must never be used to influence parents to remove their child from the school.

Key points:

• It should only be used when the child or young person is at serious risk of permanent exclusion.
• It should be voluntary – parents have to be in agreement.
• It should never be used as the only alternative to a threatened permanent exclusion (you should not be made to feel like there is no other option).
• It can be positive in some circumstances as it’s an opportunity for a fresh start.
• Challenging behaviour often occurs in SEND children and young people when their needs have not been fully identified and appropriate support and reasonable adjustments have not been put in place.
• If your child has SEND and you feel that the lack of appropriate support has led to the behaviour issues then it is vital that a full Bradford SENDIASS assessment of your child’s needs takes place, so that the right support is in place before the child starts at the new setting.
• Schools should never use a managed move as an alternative to initiating a request for EHCP assessment if it is thought to be necessary. A change of school will automatically delay the process while the child settles into the new school and the school are able to assess the needs.
• Parents are often encouraged to accept a managed move to avoid risking a permanent exclusion on their child’s record. Managed moves are not subject to the same legal protection and scrutiny as a permanent exclusion. There is no automatic review of the head teacher’s decision by the governors and no right of parental appeal as it seen as a voluntary decision. For these reasons it is important not to rush into it and to make sure it is the best route for getting the support your child needs to succeed.
• If you make the decision yourself that your child needs a move to another school, then the normal admissions procedures will need to be followed.

Direction off-site

Under Section 29a of the Education Act 1996,

“The governing body of a maintained school in England may require any registered pupil to attend at any place outside the school premises for the purpose of receiving educational provision which is intended to improve the behaviour of the pupil.”

This is a strategy schools can use when targeted support and interventions have not been successful in improving the child’s behaviour. The arrangement is time-limited, and the setting can be another mainstream setting or an alternative provision, such as a PRU. During the off-site direction, the child will be registered at both schools.

Schools cannot use off-site direction because they are unable to meet the child’s special educational needs or medical needs.

Parents do not need to give consent for the school to direct off-site, but it is important they are included in the planning process.

You can find out more about direction off site on IPSEAs website:

Directing pupils off-site | (IPSEA) Independent Provider of Special Education Advice

Phase transfers

A phase transfer is when the child or young person finishes the current education phase and moves onto the next phase of education. For example, Primary education to secondary education, and secondary education to post-16 education.

Transitioning between educational settings can be a difficult time for children and young people. Bradford SENDIASS have developed some videos with their young people to help ease the anxieties when starting a new setting. You can watch them below: