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I have found this for what parents can do if their child is getting bullied.
All schools are likely to have some problem with bullying at one time or another. It is essential that your child's school has an anti-bullying policy, and uses it to reduce and prevent bullying, as many schools have already successfully done.
Bullying can include the following:
name calling and teasing
threats and extortion
physical violence
damage to someone's belongings
leaving pupils out of social activities deliberately and frequently
spreading malicious rumours
Bullying by mobile phone text messages or e mail
Parents and families have an important part to play in helping schools deal with bullying
First, discourage your child from using bullying behaviour at home or elsewhere. Show them how to resolve the difficult situations without using violence or aggression.
Second, ask to see the school's anti-bullying policy. All schools should have an anti-bullying policy. It is a document that sets out how the school deals with incidents of bullying. You have a right to know about this policy, which is for parents as much as staff and pupils.
Third,watch out for signs that your child is being bullied, or is bullying others. Parents and families are often the first to detect that a problem exists. Don't dismiss it. Contact the school immediately if you are worried.
Information about what to do
if your child has been bullied
when talking with teachers about bullying
if you are not satisfied
if your child is bullying other children
to stop your child from bullying others
resources for parents and families about bullying
useful organisations that can help
if your child has been bullied calmly talk with your child about his/her experience
make a note of what your child says, particularly who was said to be involved; how often the bullying has occured; where it happened and what has happened
reassure your child that he/she has done he right thing to tell you about the bullying
explain to your child that should any further incidents occur he/she should report them to a teacher immediately
make an appointment to see your child's class teacher or form tutor
explain to the teacher the problems your child is experiencing
when talking with teachers about bullying
try to 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, give dates, places and names of other children involved
make a note of what action the school intends to take
ask if there is anything you can do to help your child of the school
stay in touch with the school; let them know if things improve as well as if problems continue
if you are not satisfied
Families who feel that their concerns are not being addressed appropriately by the school might like to consider the following steps:
check with the school anti-bullying policy to see if agreed proceedures are being followed
discuss your concerns with the parent governor or other parents
make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Headteacher; keep 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 happening
contact the director of education for your authority; the authority will be able to ensure that the Governors respond to your concerns
If you need further support and information at any stage or the problem remains unresolved, ring the helpline at Parentline plus (see Organisations that can help) or other local and national support groups.
if your child is bullying other childrens
Many children may be involved in bullying other pupils at some time or other. Often parents are not aware that their child is involved in bullying.
Children sometimes bully others because
they don't know it's wrong
they are copying older brothers or sisters or other people in the family whom they admire
they haven't learnt other, better ways of mixing with their school friends
their friends encourage them to bully
they are going through a difficult time and are acting out aggressive feelings
to stop your child from bullying others
talk with your child; explain that what he or she is doing is unacceptable and makes other children unhappy
discourage other members of your family from bullying behaviour or from using aggression or force to get what they want
show your child how he/she can join in with other children without bullying
make an appointment to see your child's class teacher or form tutor; explain to the teacher the problems your child is experiencing; discuss with the teacher how you and the school can stop him or her bullying others
regularly check with your child how things are going at school
give your child lots of praise and encouragement when he or she is co-operative or kind to other people
Bullying by mobile phone text messages or e mail
If your child experiences these kinds of bullying, a parent can
complain to child's teacher
ensure the child is careful about who they give their mobile phone number or e mail address to
check exactly when a threatening message was sent
when necessary, report incidents to the police
Resources for parents and families about bullying
ALEXANDER, JYour child bullying: Practical and easy to follow advice
Element Books (1998)
ELLIOTT, M101 Ways to deal with bullying, A guide for parents
Stoughton (1997)
KIDSCAPEKeeping safe: A practical guide to talking with children
Kidscape, 152 Buckingham palace Road, London SW1W 9TR (1990)
LAWSON, SHelping children cope with bullying
Sheldon Press (1994)
LINDENFIELD, GConfident children: A parents' guide to helping children feel good
Thorsens (1994)
MELLOR, ABullying and how to fight it: A guide for families
Scottish Council for research in Education, 15 St John Street, Edinburgh EH5 5JR (1993)
PEARCE, JFighting, teasing and bullying: Simple and effective ways to help your child
Wellingborough: Thorsons (1989)
TRAIN,
AThe bullying problem: How to deal with difficult children.
Condor Book, Souvenir Press (1995)
useful organisations that can help
Advisory Centre for Education
1c Aberdeen Studios, 22 Highbury Grove, London N5 2DQ
Tel helpline: 0207 354 8321 (Mon-Fri 2-5pm)
Advice line for parents on all matters concerning schools
Anti Bullying Campaign
185 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UF
Tel: 0207 378 1446 (9.30am-5.00pm)
Advice line for parents and children
Children's Legal centre
Tel: 01206 873 820
(Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm and 2pm-4.30pm)
Publications and free advice line on legal issues
Kidscape
2 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH
Tel: 0207 730 3300 Fax: 0207 730 7081
Has a wide range of publications for young people, parents and teachers.
Bullying counsellor available Monday to Friday 10-4
Parentline Plus
520 Highgate Studios, 53-79 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 1TL
Tel: 0808 800 2222(24 hours)
All schools are likely to have some problem with bullying at one time or another. It is essential that your child's school has an anti-bullying policy, and uses it to reduce and prevent bullying, as many schools have already successfully done.
Bullying can include the following:
name calling and teasing
threats and extortion
physical violence
damage to someone's belongings
leaving pupils out of social activities deliberately and frequently
spreading malicious rumours
Bullying by mobile phone text messages or e mail
Parents and families have an important part to play in helping schools deal with bullying
First, discourage your child from using bullying behaviour at home or elsewhere. Show them how to resolve the difficult situations without using violence or aggression.
Second, ask to see the school's anti-bullying policy. All schools should have an anti-bullying policy. It is a document that sets out how the school deals with incidents of bullying. You have a right to know about this policy, which is for parents as much as staff and pupils.
Third,watch out for signs that your child is being bullied, or is bullying others. Parents and families are often the first to detect that a problem exists. Don't dismiss it. Contact the school immediately if you are worried.
Information about what to do
if your child has been bullied
when talking with teachers about bullying
if you are not satisfied
if your child is bullying other children
to stop your child from bullying others
resources for parents and families about bullying
useful organisations that can help
if your child has been bullied calmly talk with your child about his/her experience
make a note of what your child says, particularly who was said to be involved; how often the bullying has occured; where it happened and what has happened
reassure your child that he/she has done he right thing to tell you about the bullying
explain to your child that should any further incidents occur he/she should report them to a teacher immediately
make an appointment to see your child's class teacher or form tutor
explain to the teacher the problems your child is experiencing
when talking with teachers about bullying
try to 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, give dates, places and names of other children involved
make a note of what action the school intends to take
ask if there is anything you can do to help your child of the school
stay in touch with the school; let them know if things improve as well as if problems continue
if you are not satisfied
Families who feel that their concerns are not being addressed appropriately by the school might like to consider the following steps:
check with the school anti-bullying policy to see if agreed proceedures are being followed
discuss your concerns with the parent governor or other parents
make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Headteacher; keep 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 happening
contact the director of education for your authority; the authority will be able to ensure that the Governors respond to your concerns
If you need further support and information at any stage or the problem remains unresolved, ring the helpline at Parentline plus (see Organisations that can help) or other local and national support groups.
if your child is bullying other childrens
Many children may be involved in bullying other pupils at some time or other. Often parents are not aware that their child is involved in bullying.
Children sometimes bully others because
they don't know it's wrong
they are copying older brothers or sisters or other people in the family whom they admire
they haven't learnt other, better ways of mixing with their school friends
their friends encourage them to bully
they are going through a difficult time and are acting out aggressive feelings
to stop your child from bullying others
talk with your child; explain that what he or she is doing is unacceptable and makes other children unhappy
discourage other members of your family from bullying behaviour or from using aggression or force to get what they want
show your child how he/she can join in with other children without bullying
make an appointment to see your child's class teacher or form tutor; explain to the teacher the problems your child is experiencing; discuss with the teacher how you and the school can stop him or her bullying others
regularly check with your child how things are going at school
give your child lots of praise and encouragement when he or she is co-operative or kind to other people
Bullying by mobile phone text messages or e mail
If your child experiences these kinds of bullying, a parent can
complain to child's teacher
ensure the child is careful about who they give their mobile phone number or e mail address to
check exactly when a threatening message was sent
when necessary, report incidents to the police
Resources for parents and families about bullying
ALEXANDER, JYour child bullying: Practical and easy to follow advice
Element Books (1998)
ELLIOTT, M101 Ways to deal with bullying, A guide for parents
Stoughton (1997)
KIDSCAPEKeeping safe: A practical guide to talking with children
Kidscape, 152 Buckingham palace Road, London SW1W 9TR (1990)
LAWSON, SHelping children cope with bullying
Sheldon Press (1994)
LINDENFIELD, GConfident children: A parents' guide to helping children feel good
Thorsens (1994)
MELLOR, ABullying and how to fight it: A guide for families
Scottish Council for research in Education, 15 St John Street, Edinburgh EH5 5JR (1993)
PEARCE, JFighting, teasing and bullying: Simple and effective ways to help your child
Wellingborough: Thorsons (1989)
TRAIN,
AThe bullying problem: How to deal with difficult children.
Condor Book, Souvenir Press (1995)
useful organisations that can help
Advisory Centre for Education
1c Aberdeen Studios, 22 Highbury Grove, London N5 2DQ
Tel helpline: 0207 354 8321 (Mon-Fri 2-5pm)
Advice line for parents on all matters concerning schools
Anti Bullying Campaign
185 Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UF
Tel: 0207 378 1446 (9.30am-5.00pm)
Advice line for parents and children
Children's Legal centre
Tel: 01206 873 820
(Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm and 2pm-4.30pm)
Publications and free advice line on legal issues
Kidscape
2 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W 0DH
Tel: 0207 730 3300 Fax: 0207 730 7081
Has a wide range of publications for young people, parents and teachers.
Bullying counsellor available Monday to Friday 10-4
Parentline Plus
520 Highgate Studios, 53-79 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 1TL
Tel: 0808 800 2222(24 hours)