PARENTS ADVICE

I have noticed that when a concerned parent wants to tackle the issue of the bullying their child is undergoing that not many people know where to start, or what to do after exhausting all the channels offered by the school. So I have gathered all the information together and put in one place, cutting out all the long winded rubbish aimed to confuse.

IS YOUR CHILD A VICTIM OF BULLYING?

THE SIGNS

• He/she makes up illnesses to stay off school

• Unexplained cuts and bruises

• Missing Property

• He/she becomes withdrawn

• Staying in more than usual

• Drop in grades

• Bad behaviour

• Stealing

STEP 1

The first action to take is to inform the school of the problem. In the meantime make sure either yourself or your child is keeping a diary of events. Send a note to your child’s form tutor and head of year.

Ask for your letter to be included in your child’s school file with a note of the action taken

Request that contact between your child and the bullying is monitored and is as limited as possible

A lot of the times parents ask for their child to be moved to a different class, but why should they have their school life disrupted? If it is causing a great deal of emotional trauma, ask for the bully in question to be moved.

Ask the school to provide increased supervision during breaks and lesson changes, not for your child, for the bully.

Ask other parents if they have any similar problems regarding the same bullies

STEP 2

If the matter is not resolved by now, take your complaint to the head teacher of the school. When putting your complaint forward ask what options he/she can enforce on the bully

Schools have a variety of punishments that include:

• A warning

• Calling the bullies parents

• Detention

• Isolation from classes and lunch breaks

• Temporary exclusion from School

• Permanent Exclusion

If you have a meeting with the head teacher or other members of staff, try to take a partner or friend with you to this meeting and make notes of the points you want to put across first. Be calm and friendly and don’t cause a heated argument or make threats however tempting that may be. It will not help matters.

Consider taking your child to the doctor if it is causing particular stress, as well as medical advice or if medication/counselling is provided, it is also noted in his/her medical records which can prove to be useful.

STEP 3

If the school has exhausted all of its options and the problem still persists the next step would be to send a letter to the ‘chair’ of Governors within the school, you will be able to find their name at the schools reception and you can send the letter c/o the school in question. Ask for immediate action to be taken. At the same time send a copy of the letter to your local M.P and request an appointment to meet them and find out what measures they can take.

STEP 4

Inform your local LEA of the situation and make a formal complaint, these are granted with more power than the school regarding the discipline of the bullies, especially if your child is so stressed or frightened of going to school. The Education Welfare officer can act in liaison with the school. Ask them how many other complaints of bullying have been reported to them regarding the same school

If you feel that the LEA is not taking your complaint seriously, you can complain to the local government Ombudsman, who can’t look into what’s happening within the school but can check into how the LEA is processing your complaint

Your final option is to take your complaint to the Secretary of State where your issue will be dealt with by the Pupils and Parents Branch :

Secretary of State

Sanctuary Buildings,

Great Smith Street,

Westminster,

London