BOLTON has won the cash to carry out pioneering work aimed at stamping out bad behaviour in primary schools.

The town is one of just seven in the North West to be given money for experimental schemes to help children with special needs.

Government officials, concerned about the increase in troublesome primary children throughout the country, believe lessons learned in Bolton could be used nationwide.

Behaviour

And they have agreed to fund a specialist team to find out the best way of handling bad behaviour in the borough's primary and nursery schools.

As reported in the BEN, education chiefs applied for the grant in an effort to slash the number of children being expelled and statemented for emotional and behavioural difficulties.

They now plan to double the £55,000 grant to set up the team which will be made up of psychologists, social workers and other experts who can nip disruptive behaviour in the bud.

School standards Minister Estelle Morris said of the seven winning bids: "The projects will involve developing centres of excellence in special education and offering greater support for special educational needs pupils in mainstream schools.

"The pilot projects put the needs of the individual child first."

Bolton education committee chairman Cllr Don Eastwood said: "This is very good news for Bolton's primary schools. We will now be working closely with head teachers to ensure best use is made of these extra resources."

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