The report found new techniques promoted positive behaviour

The document, one of the most comprehensive surveys on discipline, was made public by Education Minister Peter Peacock on Monday.

It confirmed that teachers were concerned about the policy of sending children with behaviour problems to mainstream schools.

However, the Conservatives said the survey is vague and lacks credibility.

Violent attacks on teachers in Scotland's schools are rare, according to the report.

However, staff noted distractions caused by so-called low level indiscipline, including youngsters failing to turn up with a pencil, chatting and swinging on chairs.

The Scottish Tories said the report was "woolly and unreliable" as it was only a sample survey of teachers' perceptions of discipline problems.

Violence is, fortunately, still rare but always unacceptable Peter Peacock Education Minister

Mr Peacock said: "This is the most comprehensive survey of discipline in Scottish schools ever carried out.

"The survey was jointly designed and commissioned by the executive and the teachers' unions, headteachers associations and local authorities.

"Violence is, fortunately, still rare but always unacceptable. The survey suggests that the modern interventions we have been promoting in schools - such as staged intervention and restorative practices - do work and are key to promoting positive behaviour."

Key findings of the survey included that headteachers - and the majority of teachers, additional support staff and pupils - considered pupils to be well-behaved in the classroom and around the school.

The key behaviour issue for schools continues to be the 'drip drip' effect of low level indiscipline such as talking out of turn, making unnecessary noise and hindering other pupils.

There are occasional, more serious, aggressive incidents which are more likely to occur in corridors and playgrounds than the classroom.

'Controversial proposal'

Mr Peacock announced an action plan aimed at reducing discipline problems, which will see an executive-funded team working in schools.

The teaching union, EIS, and the Headteachers Association Scotland endorsed the initiative.

Fiona Hyslop MSP claimed it had taken up some of the Scottish National Party's proposals.

However, the Nationalist MSP said there were also "some provocative challenges" such as providing the same support staff for special needs children and badly-behaved children.