A method and apparatus at a small cell access point for offloading a wireless device in a macro cell, the method establishing a radio link signaling connection between a base station of the macro cell and the access point; and offloading the wireless device using control signaling over the signaling connection. Further, a method at the wireless device, the method receiving a message identifying a set of candidate small cell access points; selecting at least one access point from amongst the set of candidate small cell access points; reporting the selected at least one access point; receiving a preparatory message preparing the wireless device for a target small cell access point, wherein the target small cell access point is included in the selected at least one access point; and associating the wireless device with the target small cell access point.