🔬Managed Moves Vs Permanent Exclusions 📝
When a student is at risk of permanent exclusion, what should schools do?
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Every week, I share insights, strategies, and tips from my experience working with children and professionals on social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) in education. This week, we’re exploring managed moves and permanent exclusions.
Sometimes, managed moves can be used as an alternative to permanent exclusion (PX). They can be extremely beneficial for the child, as having a PX on your record results in giving the child a negative label. Managed moves can and do work. However, they need to be set up correctly. If done hastily, they can have a significant impact on the child’s sense of belonging and result in compounding attachment needs.
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“It’s a fresh start.”
That’s the promise often attached to a managed move, a clean slate in a new school, a second chance to succeed. But behind the hopeful language lies a difficult truth: without the right support, a managed move can feel less like a lifeline and more like a quiet exclusion.
A growing body of research, including the systematic review by Messeter & Soni (2017), reveals that the outcome of a managed move often hinges on a few key ingredients: strong relationships, transparent planning, and robust support. Strip those away, and the move becomes a revolving door, one that rarely leads to stability.
So, how do we ensure that managed moves actually work? What does the evidence say, and what practical steps can schools take?
🔬 What the Research Says
Why are managed moves used? Often triggered by persistent behaviour issues, relationship breakdowns, or unmet SEND needs.
The key to success: Strong relationships, clear communication, and a personalised support plan.
The risks: Poorly managed moves can feel like an unofficial exclusion, leaving students without the right support to succeed.
📝 Inside the Full Analysis (For Paid Subscribers)
In the full post, I break down:
✅ What makes a managed move successful or unsuccessful? (case studies and real-life examples)
✅ The hidden dangers of managed moves: Are they just exclusion in disguise?
✅ A practical guide for schools: to ensure managed moves are genuinely supportive, not just a way to remove "difficult" students
🔍 When Should They be Used?
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