> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://signalschools.co.uk/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating a Transfer

> Step-by-step guide to sending outgoing transfers and requesting incoming transfers for safeguarding records.

<Note>
  You need to be **Deputy DSL** or above, or hold the **School Admin** role, to create transfers.
</Note>

Signal supports two transfer flows, both initiated from **Settings > Transfers**. Use **Send Transfer** when a student is leaving your school, and **Request Transfer** when a student has arrived and you need their records from a previous school.

Both flows require you to select an establishment from your directory — or create a new one during the process.

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/signalschools-02f5aab3/DkhHzfL4sitIsSFk/transfers/transfers-page.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=DkhHzfL4sitIsSFk&q=85&s=ebaef64575e181226ca4cc321c306f78" alt="The Transfers page with the Request Transfer and Send Transfer buttons" width="1440" height="900" data-path="transfers/transfers-page.png" />
</Frame>

## Send Transfer (outgoing)

Use this flow when a student is leaving your school and you need to send their safeguarding records to the receiving school.

### When to send a transfer

* A student is moving to another school (primary to secondary, or any school change)
* A student is transferring to a pupil referral unit (PRU) or alternative provision
* A student is moving to a school in another local authority

You should initiate the transfer as soon as you know the student is leaving, so records arrive before or shortly after the child does.

### Steps

<Warning>
  You can only send records for an **archived** student. Archive the pupil on their profile first — see [Archiving students](/docs/students/adding-editing#archiving-students). If none of your pupils are archived, the student picker is empty.
</Warning>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a new transfer">
    Go to **Settings > Transfers** and click **Send Transfer**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the archived students">
    In **Select Archived Students**, search for and choose the pupil whose records you are sending. You can select more than one — useful when siblings move together.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose where to send them">
    Under **Send records to**, start typing the receiving school's name and pick it from your [establishments directory](/docs/transfers/managing-transfers). If it is not there yet, click **Add new establishment** — or **Can't find it? Add establishment manually** to enter the name and email yourself.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send the transfer">
    Click **Send Transfer**. The receiving school is emailed to say records are waiting for them, and the transfer appears on your **Outgoing Transfers** tab so you can track it. If they do not use Signal, see [what they receive](/docs/transfers/schools-without-signal).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/signalschools-02f5aab3/m0BVmVpRhzslgp_d/transfers/send-transfer-dialog.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=m0BVmVpRhzslgp_d&q=85&s=8a6e8e0aefc4cf554d563d25abc4d660" alt="The Send Student Transfer Records dialog with an archived student selected and the receiving school chosen from the establishments directory" width="512" height="500" data-path="transfers/send-transfer-dialog.png" />
</Frame>

## Request Transfer (incoming)

Use this flow when a student has arrived at your school and you need to request their safeguarding records from their previous school.

### When to request a transfer

* A new student has joined your school and you need their safeguarding history
* A student has transferred from another setting and records have not yet been provided
* You need to follow up on records that should have accompanied a student on arrival

### Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start a new request">
    Go to **Settings > Transfers** and click **Request Transfer**. Select the student whose records you need.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select or create an establishment">
    Choose the student's previous school from your [establishments directory](/docs/transfers/managing-transfers), or click **Add new establishment** to create one. You can search for the school to prepopulate the details, or enter them manually.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send the request">
    Confirm and send. The previous school is notified by email that you have requested safeguarding records for the student. Send it to a mailbox someone monitors — the sign-in code goes to that same address. See [Schools Without Signal](/docs/transfers/schools-without-signal).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/signalschools-02f5aab3/04mk0CYWjEs0Pl63/transfers/transfer-request-form.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=04mk0CYWjEs0Pl63&q=85&s=0e498ed7eb47c5a8d576f3ebf12d663b" alt="Request Transfer form with a student selected and the establishment to request records from" width="512" height="516" data-path="transfers/transfer-request-form.png" />
</Frame>

Once the previous school responds, the incoming transfer appears on your Transfers page for you to review and accept.

## What gets included

A transfer sends the student's safeguarding record across, which can include:

* **Incidents** — the full incident record, including description, categories, date, and any linked information.
* **Comments** — comments on those incidents, preserving the communication trail.
* **Documents** — files from the student's document library and attachments on their incidents.
* **Context** — additional context about the student's situation.

<Tip>
  Start building your [establishments directory](/docs/transfers/managing-transfers) early. Adding the schools you commonly transfer to or receive from saves time when you need to create a transfer quickly.
</Tip>

<Warning>
  Check the pupil and the receiving school carefully before you click **Send Transfer**. Once sent, the receiving school is emailed and can access the records.
</Warning>
