Exclude certain children based on template

[Tyssen]

I'm using this:

$categories = $pages->get(1077)->children->shuffle();

foreach($categories->slice(0, 6) as $category) :

  include("./inc/category-items.inc");

endforeach;

to randomise and display only 6 items of a certain page's children.

Now I also need to exclude children which have a certain template from the output. I did have:

if($category->template->name!='exclude') include("./inc/category-items.inc");

but that sometimes results in only 5 items being shown.

What do I need to do to the $categories array before it gets sliced?

[teppo]

$categories = $pages->get(1077)->children("template!=exclude")->shuffle();

[tpr]

Filter pages right on getting them:

1077)->children('template!=exclude')...

Edit: shouldn't try being fast when on mobile

[Tyssen]

Thanks guys