What the law says YOU can do if your child is being bullied at school
STATS show that one child per class has been bullied every day for the past six months, but what can parents do to help?
If your kid is being harassed in school, you should bring the matter up with teachers and you may be entitled to take legal action.
and can be reported to the police, and you can even contact 999 if the person is in immediate danger.
This can cover cases involving violence or assault, theft, repeated harassment like abusive calls or text, and hate crimes.
By law, all state schools should have a behaviour policy in place to prevent bullying among pupils, and this is determined by each school.
Each school may deal with bullying differently, but you can complain if you feel they haven’t dealt with your concerns appropriately.
They suggest that if you are keen to go down this avenue, you should see a local solicitor for half an hour of free legal advice to determine if it should be pursued.
It's also advised, that however frustrating the situation maybe, parents should not approach the parents of the bully or use violence to settle any disputes.
It can be difficult to obtain legal funding, but if you do take action, a solicitor will review your papers, and take counsel’s opinion.
THE SUN'S BLOCK THE BULLYING CAMPAIGN SEEKS TO TACKLE ABUSE
Bullying is the biggest threat faced by children today, a parents’ survey has revealed.
Six in ten adults say they fear their youngsters being victimised in or outside school more than any other risk.
They listed it well above sexual abuse, drug addiction, boozing and smoking a their greatest concern.
The everyday fears of parents were laid bare in a survey by telly presenter and campaigner Martin Roberts.
The Sun recently launched a Block the Bullying Campaign with the NSPCC - calling on internet companies to take down sickening videos of children attacking other children.
You will then see a barrister who will inform you if you have a case, and then will compile a written opinion.
The former pupil says the school failed to protect her adequately from physical and cyberbullying, and she self-harmed and had a failed suicide bid as a result.
However, in 2002, two teens from north east England lost their county court claim over bullying, when a judge ruled the school had tried to resolve the issue.
For further advice on whether you have grounds to sue, you can speak to on 0808 802 0008.
This section places a legal duty on maintained schools and Local Authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Section 175 requires two types of arrangements to be used:
- to take all reasonable measures to ensure that risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimised;
- to take all appropriate action to address concerns about the welfare of a child, or children, working to agreed local policies and procedures in full partnership with other local agencies
Head-teachers of maintained schools and academies must determine measures with a view to encouraging good behaviour and respect for others on the part of pupils, and, in particular, preventing all forms of bullying amongst pupils.
The measures determined by the head-teacher must be publicised in the form of a written document (anti-bullying policy).
A bullying incident should be addressed as a child protection concern when there is ‘reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm’. If this is the case, the school staff should report their concerns to their local authority children’s social care.
Academies and independent schools are required to ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school. The proprietor must ensure that bullying at the schools is prevented in so far as reasonably practicable, by the drawing up and implementation of an effective anti-bullying policy.
Bullying is one of a parent’s worst nightmares. But sadly it is on the rise, with nearly 20,000 calls to Childline in 2017-18 about bullying.
Wendy Robinson from the charity says: “These experiences can have a devastating impact, leading to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and, in the very worst cases, suicide.
“Whether it’s happening online or in the real world, it is vitally important that any young person who is experiencing bullying talks to someone they trust, be it a friend, parent, teacher or a Childline counsellor.”
Some 45 per cent of kids aged 11 to 16 suffered abuse in person at least once.
A third were targeted online at least once. And 87 per cent saw pupils bullying each other.
The Anti-Bullying Alliance, which polled 1,000 children, believes four per cent are bullied daily — the equivalent of one per class.
- Youngsters can call Childline on 0800 11 11
- Adults can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000
- Or go to: nspcc.org.uk/bullying
A nine-year-old girl hit back at bullies who made her ‘miserable and lonely’ after her new school makes her feel strong, ‘kinda funny’ and like a good friend.
And girls create incredible anti-bullying video after one of them was victimised at school.