The report, commissioned by Glasgow City Council and the charity Save the Children, examined the experiences of asylum seeker children attending local authority schools in the city.

It found that school was a highlight for many of the children.

Glasgow has more asylum seekers and refugees than any other local authority in Scotland.

About 1,200 children from asylum seeker backgrounds go to the city's schools.

They speak of how they have been helped by the warmth and generosity of their new teachers and classmates as well as the Scottish people who have welcomed them here

Alison Davies Save the Children

This offers the council a considerable challenge, not only in making educational provision, but also in improving the youngsters' experiences of daily life.

The report, entitled "Starting Again...Young Asylum Seekers' Views on Life in Glasgow", found that the worst thing for asylum seeker children was not feeling safe.

This included experiencing racism or bullying and witnessing violence or drug abuse.

Yet more than three quarters of those questioned felt school was a key element in their lives, providing major opportunities to make friends, socialise and learn English.

Save the Children said this called into question Home Office proposals to educate asylum seeker children separately.

Speak English

The charity said young asylum seekers should be treated as children first, and their opinions should help formulate government policy.

The survey involved more than 700 young people between the ages of five and 18 of 54 different nationalities in the city.

The children interviewed represented 60% of all asylum-seeking children enrolled in school.

The largest group (13.3%) was from Afghanistan, followed by Somalia (11%) and Turkey (10%).

Almost all of them (95%) said they could speak English and were surveyed using a variety of questionnaires, statistical profiles and interviews.

Help newcomers

Alison Davies, director of Save the Children Scotland, said: "Starting again in Glasgow has been a tremendous challenge for these children, which they have met with great courage.

"They speak of how they have been helped by the warmth and generosity of their new teachers and classmates as well as the Scottish people who have welcomed them here."

The report also called for city-wide anti-racism initiatives to deal with racial harassment and activities to help newcomers integrate into the community.

A confidential advice service should also be available to help children deal with issues, and adequate funds are needed to provide ways of asylum seekers meeting Glasgow people.

The recommendations will now be passed on to the UK Government, the Home Office and the Scotland Office