ENGLAND’S Children’s Commissioner has visited Wiltshire as part of a national tour of local authorities to look at school exclusions.

Children’s Commissioner Maggie Atkinson’s report, They Never Give Up On You, recommends ways to improve the system of school exclusions and services relating to that area.

The visit was part of her independent School Exclusions Inquiry, which will examine different practice in a variety of localities.

Wiltshire Council is part of a national government pilot project placing the responsibility on secondary schools for children who are in danger of being permanently excluded.

The work of those authorities involved in the pilot will form part of a separate report for the government.

Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott said: “It was a real privilege to welcome the Children’s Commissioner and discuss the work we are doing in Wiltshire for children who may find themselves at a difficult stage in their lives.

“We are leading the way in piloting this new project and we were pleased to be able to share our experiences and inform her report to government.”

The council is one of seven local authorities taking part in the Department for Education pilot scheme, which has been operating since September.

It aims to radically improve long-term prospects for those who would be permanently excluded pupils by moving responsibility from the local authority to schools.