A RANGE of measures are being brought in to deal with some of Bolton's most difficult pupils.

All head teachers have been sent a letter by Margaret Blenkinsop, director of education and culture, setting out a number of initiatives to deal with challenging children.

A panel of secondary heads are to work together to make sure that no individual school is receiving too many excluded pupils.

The panel will also channel resources into measures which aim to prevent exclusions from arising -- so that far fewer youngsters have to be educated at expensive out-of-school placements.

Mrs Blenkinsop said: "Exclusion is really the very last resort. We want to keep them in school and do all we can to help them stay there, so we are not spending a lot of money educating children outside of school."

Education bosses will also continue to review the schooling of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties in the new year. One recommendation that has been put forward is to establish a primary school that is fully resourced to help them. Mrs Blenkinsop added: "This will give us the opportunity to develop a more inclusive and appropriate provision for our most challenging and challenged pupils in the primary phase."

A RANGE of measures are being brought in to deal with some of Bolton's most difficult pupils.

All head teachers have been sent a letter from Margaret Blenkinsop, director of education and culture, setting out a number of initiatives to deal with challenging children.

A panel of secondary heads are to work together to make sure that no individual school is receiving too many excluded pupils.

The panel will also channel resources into measures which aim to prevent exclusions from arising - so that far fewer youngsters have to be educated at expensive out-of-school placements.

Mrs Blenkinsop said: "Exclusion is really the very, very last resort. We want to keep them in school and do all we can to help them stay there, so we are not spending a lot of money educating children outside of school."

Education bosses will also continue to review the schooling of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties in the new year. One recommendation that has been put forward is to establish a primary school that is fully resourced to help them. Mrs Blenkinsop added: "This will give us the opportunity to develop a more inclusive and appropriate provision for our most challenging and challenged pupils in the primary phase."