Hanging on in there: a study of inter-agency work to prevent school exclusion in three local authorities

This study investigates established inter agency initiatives on disciplinary exclusion from schools in three Scottish local authorities. The project explores issues of effectiveness for young people, their perceptions of success, those of their parents, and of relevant professionals. It finds that school based inter agency meetings were central to effective working, but that the process of identifying successful and appropriate support depend on the involvement of young people and their families. Effective professionals were seen to be non judgemental, flexible, imaginative and not to give up on the young people.