GUIDELINES on using force to control pupils are to be sent to a town's schools.

Following changes to the law, Middlesbrough Borough Council has compiled information on the use of "positive handling strategies" for unruly children.

The move comes after the Government reinforced the right of teachers to use force, in certain circumstances.

While Middlesbrough's report, due to be presented to councillors on Wednesday, does not advocate corporal punishment, it suggests appropriate criteria for, and methods of, restraint.

It emphasises that any actions should be used to maintain general order, and should not undermine schools' supportive roles.

Dave Johnson, acting head of inclusion services, says in the report: "Incidents need to be considered and understood in context, i.e. the total picture of the young person, including their life experience to date."

Interventions should be made following serious attempts at involving the young person in the behaviour management process, says the report.

If necessary, force is advocated to prevent a child from committing, or continuing to commit, a criminal offence, injuring themselves or others, causing damage to property, and causing disruption to other students.

The terms "escorting", "holding" and "restraint" are used to describe appropriate forms of action.

It is anticipated that a core of Local Education Authority staff will be trained and retrained annually, at a cost of £2,000, to pass on up-to-date protocol to schools.

The report leaves who should be allowed to administer positive handling strategies up to headteachers, suggesting that care workers, caretakers and voluntary helpers might be included.

It provides scope for intervention to control children who are about to cause trouble, and dictates what records of incidents should be kept.