Millions of pounds that went unspent by the Department for Education last year are being channelled into tackling pupils whose poor behaviour is driving many teachers out of the classroom.

In his Budget on Wednesday Chancellor Gordon Brown pledged to put �87m towards putting a stop to disruptive behaviour in schools.

Education Budget

�114,000 for secondary schools �39,300 for primary schools Education a "priority" in spending review �87m "re-directed" to improving school discipline

That money though is entirely drawn from cash the department had failed to spend in the financial year just ended.

The reallocation of funds came after discipline - or lack of it - proved a major source of discontent among teachers during the union conference season over the Easter period.

Stories of teachers driven out of the profession by violent and abusive pupils - and parents too - prevailed, as union delegates took to the stand.

Kicked and bitten

One member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers told her conference she did not consider she had been assaulted - and yet she had been kicked, bitten, scratched, pushed and hit.

A member of the NASUWT spoke of how she had been forced to retire on grounds of ill-health after she was seriously assaulted by a teenage pupil.

Their stories received ample coverage in the media - embarrassing news for a government anxious to recruit more people into a profession already stricken by shortages.

A wise move by Mr Brown then to be seen to be responding immediately to teachers' concerns.

'Hot spots'

The �87m will fund a drive to cut disruptive behaviour in 33 "hot spot areas", the Department for Education says.

Mr Brown had one or two goodies in the bag for teachers

Preventative work will include putting more police officers into schools, as well as health, childcare and family services.

There will also be an expansion of learning support units in an attempt to "catch" pupils at risk of being excluded from school.

And new "close to learning" teams will work to stop pupils dropping out in the transition between primary and secondary school.

The cash will also be put towards new swipe card registration schemes.

Respect for teachers

"Tackling bad behaviour is essential to raise standards and build respect for teachers," the Education Secretary, Estelle Morris, said.

The government has clearly recognised the problems with disruptive pupils Eamonn O'Kane, NASUWT

"The Budget enables us to continue to invest in the measures that improve discipline in schools."

Eamonn O'Kane, general secretary of the NASUWT welcomed the idea of targeting specific funds towards problem pupils.

"Extra money for learning support units is particularly good news," he said.

"The government has clearly recognised the problems with disruptive pupils that NASUWT has been highlighting for many years."