SCHOOLS will be asked to do more to avoid expelling pupils in future.

Using educational psychologists, special units for problem children, and training teachers in behavioural management are methods that have been approved to help cut expulsions - now officially called permanent exclusions.

The ideas were recommendations by Worcestershire County Council's overview and scrutiny committee.

After a year-long consultation with schools and members of staff, 22 recommendations have been put forward.

Teachers will be trained in behavioural management skills, troublesome pupils will be taught separately by specialist teachers, parents will be encouraged to get involved with their children's education and schools will be asked to work together on common policies to manage pupils' behaviour.

There were 93 permanent exclusions in Worcestershire in 2005/6, for a number of reasons including persistent disruptive behaviour, physical and verbal assaults against adults and other pupils, and bullying. It was three times higher than the previous year.

Allegations that some schools take a disproportionate number of excluded pupils were played down by Councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and young people, who said there was no evidence of it happening.

However, the system for schools to give feedback on the support they get from the council will be improved.

And schools which find successful ways to stop expulsions will be given limited funding to keep them going.

A recommendation to give incentives to schools that work well together will not be adopted, however.

Despite a lack of Government cash, the council will help pay to train staff as educational psychologists in conjunction with the University of Worcester, and schools can buy additional support too.

College students will be urged to take another course instead of being excluded.

Colin Weeden, head of raising achievement and access to learning, welcomed the calls to cut expulsions but said some schools faced a struggle to stop them happening.

"Some children deliberately try to get themselves expelled," he said.