An off-site direction is when a school asks a child or young person to attend another education setting for a short period of time to help improve their behaviour. This might be another school or an alternative provision. 

While the law specifically refers to maintained schools, academies can also arrange this kind of support. 

Off-site direction should only be used when other support and strategies in school haven’t worked. It is meant to help a child/young person get back on track, not to punish them. 

Who makes the decision? 

The decision to direct a child or young person off-site must be made by the school’s governing body. However, this usually involves talking to: 

  • The headteacher 

  • Parents or carers 

  • Other professionals involved with the child or young person (where relevant), such as:  

  • A social worker 

  • The Virtual School (for children in care) 

  • The EHCP coordinator (if the child/young person has an EHCP or is being assessed for one) 

When might this be used? 

An off-site direction may be considered if: 

  • The school has already tried different ways to support behaviour and these haven’t worked 

  • A child/young person would benefit from a fresh start or a different setting for a short time 

  • There is a risk that the child/young person could be excluded 

What should it look like? 

  • It must be time-limited (not open-ended) 

  • It can be full-time or part-time 

  • It may involve one or more different settings 

  • There should be a clear plan for how it will help improve behaviour and support the child/young persons return 

What about additional needs (SEND)? 

Schools must think carefully about any additional needs a child/young person has, including SEND. The placement should be suitable and support those needs, not just focus on behaviour. 

Key point 

An off-site direction is there to support and help a child/young person succeed. It should never be used as a punishment. 

What happens at the end of an off-site direction? 

At the end of the agreed period, there should be a final review meeting to talk about what happens next for your child or young person. 

Together, everyone involved will agree the best next step. This might include: 

  • Returning to their original school with extra support 

  • Moving permanently to the school they attended during the off-site placement (sometimes called a managed move) 

  • Moving to a more specialist setting, such as a provision that supports social, emotional and mental health (SEMH), or an alternative provision 

The aim is to find the option that best supports your child/young person to feel settled, make progress, and succeed.