Driving down the number of pupils who refuse to turn up for school is at the heart of a sweeping document which maps out a strategy of dealing with Bradford's most challenging children.

The Behaviour Support Plan is set to be published by December 31 - the final day of the month which began with nine Bradford schools named in the list of 200 schools suffering from the worst truancy rates in the country.

In the same government league tables, Bradford as a district, was the sixth worst in the country in terms of its rates of unauthorised absences.

The BSP is required under law and sets out the council's arrangements for dealing with children who have behavioural difficulties.

The plan intends to focus on children and young people who take unauthorised leave from school.

It is believed tackling symptoms like truancy and exclusion from school will get to the heart of the emotional, learning or even mental health problems of troubled youths.

Labour councillor Roland Dale was in no doubt of the importance of getting children back to school.

"I welcome this report, but our first priority is unauthorised absences."

Coun Dale suggested one method would be ploughing resources into making contact with a parent the first day of a child's unexplained absence.

Parental involvement was also a priority as was adapting the curriculum to make it more relevant to pupils who truant due to educational under-achievement.

The plan also targets help for pupils who are excluded from school and young people living in council care.

Raising educational achievement for youngsters experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties would be dependant on a number of factors, according to the report.

Strategies for coping with fluctuating feelings experienced by a child would have to be set up.

And peer groups, families and communities would be involved in dealing with emotional and behavioural problems.

The school curriculum will be adapted to cater for the individual needs of pupils, perhaps concentrating on more vocational qualifications.

Schools will also be given extra support to help pupils who have particular emotional difficulties.

Local authority departments such as the Education Social Work Service and the Learning Support Service will play a central role in helping the children.

Agencies outside the council, like the Probation Service and the Children's Society also have a role to play.

The BSP was approved by members of the council's Education Committee and will now be submitted to the Department for Education and Employment for approval.

If the government gives the nod, the plan is set to be reviewed in two years.

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