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If your child has been bullied

Bullying in more common than you would think, as almost 8 out of 10 children in the UK are victims of bullying. Bullying can be physical such as being pushed or attacked, however there are many other forms, such as:
  • Name calling
  • Teasing
  • Excluding a child from friendship groups
  • Threatening or harassing
  • Taking childs belongings

Your child may not want to tell that they are being bullied so it is important to recognise the warning signs, such as your child:

  • Acting differently
  • Mood swings
  • Looking tired from not sleeping
  • Becoming easily upset
  • Not eating
  • Not doing things they usually enjoy
  • Actively avoiding possible bully situations such as not wanting to take the school bus

If your child has been bullied try to do the following:

  • Calmly talk to your child about it.
  • Make a note of what your child says – particularly who was said to be involved; how often the bullying has occurred; where, when and what happened.
  • It is very important that accurate records are kept of the incidents of bullying and of the action taken when the bullying was reported.
  • Reassure your child that telling you about the bullying was the right thing to do.
  • Explain that any further incidents should be reported to a teacher immediately.
  • Make an appointment to see your child’s teacher or form tutor.
  • Explain to the teacher the problems your child is experiencing.


When talking to teachers about bullying:

  • Try and stay calm – bear in mind that the teacher may have no idea that your child is being bullied or may have heard conflicting accounts of an incident.
  • Be as specific as possible about what your child says has happened – dates, places and names.
  • Make a note of what action the school intends to take.
  • Ask if there is anything you can do to help your child at school.
  • Stay in touch with the school – let them know if things improve as well as if problems continue.


If you think your concerns are not being addressed:

  • Check the school anti-bullying policy to see if agreed procedures are being followed.
  • Discuss your concerns with the parent governor or other parents.
  • Make an appointment to meet the head teacher, keeping a record of the meeting.
  • If this does not help, write to the Chair of Governors, explaining your concerns and what you would like to see happen.
  • Contact local or national parent support groups for advice.
  • Contact the Director of Education for your authority, who will be able to ensure that the Governors respond to your concerns.
  • Contact the Parentline Plus helpline for support and information at any of these stages.
  • In the last resort, write to the Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.