Can school do this? - managed move

I also work in this field and it can vary enormously between schools, LAs and MAT trusts. But there is an enormous issue of schools suspending and perm exing learners with autism and ADHD for presenting like a person with Autism or ADHD.
The gap between what Ofsted wants schools to operate as (strict uncomfortable uniform, zero exceptions to a blanket approach, punishments for every minor infringement such as forgetting an item, everyone studying 'traditional' subjects) and what we know works for SEND and vulnerable learners (trauma informed approaches etc) is widening.
We are making it harder for those who already find it hardest.
OP I would engage with school over the managed move, it means they are recognising that she needs a careful transition and they may be additional support available through the process.

Laughing when nervous isn't unusual, especially in ND learners.

I disagree.suspwcted SEND would be sensible reason for a managed move to ensure needs are being Ng met, continuity etc.
It's not always a negative thing and it doesn't mean there has been horrendous behaviour etc.

@Sofiabella the thing is, it absolutely can happen , especially in schools with blanket rules/policies and that punish a lost/forgotten calculator the same as bullying or violence .

For example, a set number of detentions (6 in a term at one school) is automatic suspension for a day. However , when detentions are given for forgetting your calculator (even if you don't need that day), not having a reading book for mandatory free reading sessions, no compass/rules , going the wrong way in the one system etc (as well as more serious incidents/disruption) it's not that hard to add them up , especially for struggling kids. Even for good kids , but it's easier for them to keep the number low. The school the. needs to now apply the 6 detentions = suspension the same way to the scatty kid as they would the school bully.

Of course, in either case it's not for nothing, but some things are more nothing than others.

Second day of spring 2, 85 kids in DD's year group (y7) had lunchtime detention for lack of some equipment or other.85 out of 200 odd. They had to do it outside as no classroom was big enough. Plenty more from other year groups as it was a whole school check. For some it was their first one, for some their 4th or 5th, for some their 6th so they got a suspension on top too.

In tears except for when she's laughing in detention.

The lengths some people will go to just to avoid saying that sometimes a kid (regardless of condition) is just plain naughty

"Suspend for nothing." Absolute facepalm. Parents who believe their children do no wrong are such a problem in today's society.

@Sofiabella I don't know why you find that funny? Anyway maybe the schools that you have worked with are different. Our school and many others on this thread and known to me in real life suspend for little or nothing. There isn't always a backstory, or more to the story.

I work for an academy trust my lovely so know far more about "how they operate" than your average parent.A large part of my role is suspension based. No blinkers here, just factual knowledge 😊

Im not wrong as part of my job is holding schools to account for suspensions and organising panels. Thanks though 🤣

@ASighMadeOfStone my dd wasn't assessed until year 10 for ADHD. It's very, very common that ADHD in girls isn't picked up until puberty, so right around year 8!

They haven't put any of the work in though. Starting the process now , could delay DD's start at the new school. Bypassing the process would be illegal.It could make the new school reconsider their offer. It could interfere with DD getting a real fresh start.It would be on DD's record. Why would OP want her DD back to a school that made her miserable, regardless of how the move goes?

My only thought is that the school suggesting a managed move may actually be them trying to support her. A managed move means the new school can send her back to your school if the.move does not go well.

If the current school wanted to wash their hands with her the managed move is not in their interest at all. They are ensuring she has a school place if the move does not work out.

There is nothing in it for the school, they wouldn't be doing it out of spite.

The school didn’t turn to a managed move, the family decided to move the child and the school are calling it a managed move.

I know all about ADHD as used to work in a support role in a school as mentioned. But schools can’t excuse all behaviours on the basis that a pupil has SEN, they still have certain expectations that most pupils follow regardless of whether they have ADHD or not. Of course schools should work with the family to try to support any child that is struggling with the school expectations and find a positive way forward that is helpful to the child, & sometimes adaptations to the rules will be suggested. But we actually don’t know what the school has tried or not tried in this situation, I think people are making assumptions. In my experience schools do try very hard, particularly with their SEN pupils and a new school won’t necessarily make all the problems disappear. The move would be more likely to be successful if the family work with the new school by not minimising their child’s behaviour issues but rather exploring the reasons for them so solutions could be found.

@Twiglets1 a managed move is a bit more complicated than simply calling it so. It is quite a lengthy process and it should only be used when a child is at risk of permanent exclusion.

They need to show they have put support plans in place , made adjustments and interventions. They need to have meetings with the new school, the parents and the pupil where everyone agrees to the move. They need to provide an action plan , risk assessments etc for the new school.

At the same time, a school that tries to force parents and pupils to accept a managed move , can be reported , and if the allegations are found to be true, considered automatically inadequate by Ofsted.

This school hasn't done any of that. So no, they can't even consider to categorise it a managed move now , much less force OP to accept it as such.

It's like you finding a new job, giving notice and your boss deciding actually, we're firing you for gross misconduct.

Flamme. You have no idea if this child has adhd. Everytime a student has issues with behaviour someone will say the child must have adhd. She may or she may not but the op has said before that the child never had problems with her behaviour before she made friends with older naughty students.

Her teachers should be using their time sensibly to get the right SEN support, in that case. Breaking the law to impose a managed move is clearly not the way to go, and sets a very poor example.

Why do people on here have this peculiar perception that moving children to a school with sensible uniform rules is always an easy option? In so many areas the reality is that parents only have the choice of one or two schools. This simply is not a sensible response.

Tell me, exactly what harm does it do to a child's learning to have a free choice of reasonably sensible shoes like air force 1s?

She has behavioural issues which are highly likely to be due to ADHD. It's pretty clear also that she has quite severe school-related anxiety. Schools are subject to guidance which makes it very clear that, before turning to things like managed moves, they should be looking into the possibility of SEN and should be bringing in outside advice, asking for an EHC needs assessment etc. It doesn't appear that this school has done any of that.

Parents can't work with schools when schools ignore their duties and statutory guidance and turn to punishment instead as the easy option. It does seem pretty clear that this is not a genuine managed move and is prompted by OP's decision to take her child out, especially given the school's falling numbers.

It's even more ridiculous to suggest that people realistically have a free choice of schools and can just opt for the one with no uniform. What are they supposed to do if every school in the area makes a bit Thing of uniform? Or if they live in an area where all the schools are full so that they have to put the nearest school first on the list or risk their child being placed in the failing school miles away? What should parents do if they select a school with a sensible attitude to uniform, their child settles in, and then a new Head turns up who insists on an expensive new uniform and detention for pupils who have a button undone at the wrong time?

Tell me, what on earth do teachers think is to be gained by insisting on strict uniform rules? Surely their time is better spent in teaching than nitpicking about what style of shoes children are wearing?

She sounds incredibly disruptive. All the time her teachers are spending trying to get her to concentrate and behave is time her fellow pupils aren't being taught.

Some academies are ridiculous. Well done OP for moving your DD!

My DC have loads of friends who attend top private schools in London because they do orchestras with them. In many of these top private schools it seems the kids are allowed Air Force trainers as school shoes, short skirts, not a big deal if something is forgotten either and they can access their phones too at certain points during the day. Yet these kids still do incredibly well academically, sports, music, drama, the lot because they are treated like individuals and valued.

In our grammar schools there are no such very petty rules either. They do set a lot of homework and high expectations, but the rules are really not as petty. Mine have never had detentions. Instead I might get an email from a teacher to me stating your child has forgotten their physics book 3 times (turns out it is the same colour as the Chemistry book so he got confused). The emphasis is on working WITH the parents, not AGAINST them. I think the same must be the case in private schools, the parents are valued clients, the grammars know we are educationally supportive parents.

Children with ADHD need clear routines and checklists at home/in their school bag and pack the bag the night before, go through all the lessons, lay out the uniform. They need to develop routines and strategies in a supportive manner to deal with their ADHD as best as they can. If they are not supported, then they go into fight and flights and everything goes wrong.

In that case take your child to a school which allows them. This the issue - parents agreeing for their child to go to a school and not agreeing with the school rules. Minimising behaviour causes so much disruption to the majority of children’s learning, including their own.

Parents should always try to work with schools and OP herself admits their child has behavioural issues. Which is obvious anyway from the fact the school would even consider categorising it as a managed move. Normally when pupils leave to go to another school, no one would think to call it a managed move.

The school doesn't sound like the right fit for your daughter. Also many other students too, if they are leaving.

I wish her luck in the new school, but she does need to cut the backtalk as it's annoying to teachers and students alike.

The rest about missing kit and uniform is nonsense.

I use to find it hard to conform to rules in school as some were pointless and had nothing to do with learning. It's was not like I was in the army.

However it's important to be respectfully to the teachers, and teach her to highlight injustice in the correct manner.

@Sofiabella you're wrong actually. When I was in school, suspension was held for really serious offences. My son's school hand them out every week. Detention even more frequent.