IT’S shocking to learn that 300 primary school pupils a week are being suspended for assaulting staff.

The total number of five to 11 year-olds suspended for attacking teachers, parents and staff in 2013-14 rose by 25 per cent to 11,420. In fact, the total number of suspensions in primary, secondary and special schools for assaults during that period was 18,970, an increase of 19 per cent on the previous figure.

There is bound to be some blame attributed to cuts in pubic services and it’s true that expert help for children with severe problems may not be as available currently.

But there is plainly an underlying problem here among children about what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour, and that starts at home. If youngsters are not given parameters in their behaviour, taught right from wrong and encouraged to work in a class situation, these figures will just get worse.