Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance is given to local education authorities on the use and facilitation of managed moves between schools for pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Current government guidance Exclusion from Maintained Schools, Academies and Pupil Referral Units (2012) advises school leaders that: “A pupil can transfer to another school as part of a ‘managed move’ where this occurs with the consent of the parties involved, including the parents” (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion). The government does not provide further guidance on how managed moves should operate.

There are two sets of guidance which relate to children and young people with special educational needs moving between schools. The first, which covers children and young people with statements of special educational needs, is the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-educational-needs-sen-code-of-practice). This guidance is due to expire in 2018 as statements are phased out and education, health and care plans are gradually introduced. The guidance which covers children and young people with education, health and care plans is the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0-25 years, which was introduced in 2014 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25). For these groups, there are specific statutory processes that must be followed by local authorities, including formal consultation with parents and with any new proposed school.