Improving behaviour: off-site direction and managed moves

You can temporarily direct pupils with challenging behaviour off your school site. Alternatively, you can carry out a managed move to another school, if the situation calls for a permanent change. Find out more about what both options involve and how you're expected to manage them.

Last reviewed on 5 February 2025See updates
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Contents
  1. What are off-site direction and managed moves?
  2. What to consider before using these interventions
  3. How to direct pupils off site
  4. What to consider ahead of a managed move
  5. If a managed move fails
  6. If the pupil doesn't attend the alternative provision setting

What are off-site direction and managed moves?

Off-site direction

This is when a governing board of a maintained school requires a pupil to attend another education setting to improve their behaviour. Academies can also arrange off-site provision for this purpose under their general powers.

During the period of off-site direction:

  • The pupil might be in alternative provision (AP) on a part-time schedule with continued mainstream schooling, or full-time for a limited period
  • The pupil must be dual-registered
  • The governing board must keep the placement under regular review

Done strictly in the pupil's best interest Voluntary and agreed by all parties – both schools, the relevant admission authority, and the parents Offered as part of a planned intervention Preceded by information-sharing between the current school, receiving school and