PARENTS can expect tougher measures as local education authorities step up a gear to tackle poor behaviour among schoolchildren.

New guidance on how to deal with anti-social behaviour in schools - which includes voluntary parenting contracts and enforcing parenting orders as a last resort - has been introduced by Hampshire County Council.

Under the new guidance, parents whose children have been excluded from school - either temporarily or permanently - will be asked to sign voluntary parenting contracts.

In the most serious cases, parents could be forced to attend parenting classes and take steps towards improving their children's behaviour.

Councillor David Kirk, Cabinet member for education, said: "Pupils who have been excluded or who are at risk of further exclusion from schools for disruptive and anti-social behaviour, run the risk of not achieving their potential and of damaging their future employment prospects as well as engaging in behaviour that is detrimental to the wider community.

"These two measures are aimed at working with families and supporting them to help them address poor behaviour in children and getting the children back on track so that they can enjoy and participate in education and make a positive contribution to the community."

Court orders, which are usually applied for in consultation with the police or youth offending teams, are used as a last resort when other measures have been exhausted.

Failure to comply with an order could result in prosecution.