"The change in the guidance to appeals panels is particularly welcome and I am confident that this will lead to a reduction in the number of perverse judgements handed down by appeals panels, which continue to return some disruptive and dangerous pupils back to their schools."

We must also guarantee that all long-term excluded pupils get a full-time education - we cannot simply exclude pupils only for them to roam the streets

Catherine Ashton, schools minister

He said he hoped the changes would bring an end to a very difficult period for head teachers who were criticised for excluding pupils, when they believed that they were acting in the interests of the whole school community in preserving good order.

A 12-week consultation period has begun on the draft guidelines.

Once that is over, and comments have been considered by the government, the new guidelines will come into force in the summer.

The new points in the guidelines include an obligation to involve social services at the earliest opportunity if a child is in danger of being expelled.

Expulsion targets

The schools minister Catherine Ashton said the decision to expel a child was a serious one: "It will usually follow a wide range of strategies adopted by the school - and which involve parents - to try to improve the child's behaviour.

"The government's target of reducing exclusions was met last year.

"But we must also guarantee that all long-term excluded pupils get a full-time education - we cannot simply exclude pupils only for them to roam the streets.

"That is why we are committed to ensuring that by September 2002 all pupils excluded for more than 15 consecutive school days will be offered full-time and appropriate education while excluded."