Under the second phase of the government’s behaviour improvement programme 27 more local education authorities are to receive £1.4m each this financial year to improve pupils’ behaviour and attendance at school.

Last year 34 LEAs with the highest levels of crime and truancy shared £50m to target selected schools. By 2005 a total of £342m will have been spent on the programme.

Participating LEAs and schools have committed themselves to improving standards of behaviour overall, reducing truancy, reducing exclusions, and making sure there is a key worker for every child at risk of exclusion.

They must also ensure that full-time, supervised education is provided for all excluded pupils.