The number of children excluded from schools is on the increase but one scheme in Bromley has been attempting to put pupils back on the right path. Reporter Adrian Kwintner spoke to some of the children and the programme's co-ordinator ...

There were 85 children excluded from secondary schools in the borough last year because teachers were unable to handle their behaviour.

But many schools have been sending pupils on the verge of exclusion, or experiencing difficulties which may lead to exclusion, on a 26-week programme run by the Bromley branch of Youth Action UK.

A group of youth workers developed Pathway to Inclusion after chatting to children on the streets who were skipping school.

They found most children about to be expelled had behavioural difficulties which often led to violence towards teachers or classmates.

James Dyer, who co-ordinates the programmes, said many pupils get into trouble because of family problems, socio-economic issues and peer pressure.

He added: "We offer young people informed choices on different ways to deal with incidents, issues and life in general, to get them to think before they act."

The course, which ran for three years in a converted, disused 1968 Leyland bus at Harlington Skate Park, in Eden Park, before moving to the Pabya Centre, in Churchfields Road, Beckenham, contains a series of workshops covering topics such as communication, self-esteem, assertiveness, behaviour and identity.

James said: "The biggest issue children raise is getting blamed for something they didn't do, so they swear at the teacher, stomp out of the classroom and get a detention.

"We show the children how to become assertive enough to talk to the teacher in a calmer and more collected way."

Groups are given a large diagram of a thermometer to explore what situations lead youngsters to boiling point and what leads to feeling relaxed.

Children also use role-play to explore different behavioural patterns and learn different forms of communication, and discuss their experiences from the school week.

One programme was specifically tailored for five 12 and 13-year-old boys from St John Rigby College, in Layhams Road, West Wickham, who had low self-esteem.

One of the boys, Dean, 12, was put onto the course to help improve his communication skills.

He said: "I've now got better skills in listening and I've learnt better eye contact and body language, so I will go back to school after the summer holidays more positive."

Another of the boys, 13-year-old Ricky, said the best thing he had learnt on the course was how to deal with peer pressure from other pupils.

"When kids try to distract me, I now just get on with my work," he said.

"And if I get told off by a teacher, I know I can talk to them after school whereas before I would just get into more trouble."

Other pupils taking part in the programmes are from Kelsey Park School for Boys, Hayes School, The Glebe, Cator Park School for Girls, Charles Darwin, Ravensbourne School and Langley Park School for Boys.

Youth Action estimates between 80 and 90 per cent of students on the scheme are still in secondary school by the end of their second year.