Further Advice for Parents 

Signs of Bullying

If your child is being bullied they may become more reserved and self-conscious. They might be particularly concerned about what their peers think about them. Children who are victimised can become ostracised so you might notice that they have less friends or are having lots of arguments with them. Some children who are picked on frequently get into trouble by their teachers, for example, for retaliating. Many children who are bullied don’t want to go to school and have increased absences. Children who are bullied can find it hard to concentrate and underperform with their school work. Bullied children can also feel anxious, depressed, and lose their confidence. Some children who are bullied don’t realise, especially when bullying is in the early stages so it is important to look out for these signs. 

How to Respond

Speak to your child to find out more about the bullying. Find out from your child who is picking on them and what they are experiencing. Ask them how they feel and how they are responding. Speak to your child about  how they want their bullying to be dealt with and ask if there are any particular teachers in the school who could help. Schools in England have a legal duty to handle bullying (DfE 2017). Read the school’s anti-bullying policy, as there will be details of who to report the bullying to and this could be the headteacher. Arrange to speak with the person in school who is responsible for dealing with bullying and take notes of what you want to cover in the meeting. Focus on the facts and try not to get too upset. Discuss how the bullying will be addressed by the school and try to keep your child involved. If the situation does not improve then you can contact the school governors and local authority. In the meantime, you could practice possible responses to the bullying with your child to develop effective strategies together. Boost your child’s confidence by helping them to challenge the negative things that the bully has said to them. Some victimised children have found that writing in a diary has encouraged them to reflect on their experiences and have an emotional outlet Nassem (2019).

References 

Department for Education. (2017). Preventing and tackling bullying: Advice for headteachers, staff and governing bodies. London: Department for Education. Retrieved from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/623895/Preventing_and_tackling_bullying_advice.pdf

Nassem, E. (2019). The teacher's guide to resolving school bullying: Evidence-based strategies and pupil-led interventions.  London: Jessica Kingsley.