Studies carried out in recent years suggest that the problem of bullying is sadly on the rise with sometimes devastating consequences for the victim. This may be due, in part, to an increase in the number of cases of cyber-bullying, however it is still a cause of some considerable concern and distress both for children who are victims of bullying and for the parents of those children.
Having a child who is being bullied can be a very harrowing experience, giving rise to feelings of total helplessness. There are, however, options available, including and most importantly, making sure the school is working with you to bring the situation under control.
For a child, bullying can be a serious and sometimes life-changing problem, with consequences that can cause long-term psychological damage if not adequately and promptly addressed. It can also take many forms these days, and ranges from verbal abuse, such as name calling and shaming, to physical abuse and of course cyber-bullying.
The rise of cyber-bullying is particularly worrying as more and more cases seem to end in tragedy. Only last week, the mother of Felix Alexander, a teenage boy who killed himself because of a sustained cyber-bullying campaign, wrote an open letter to try and counteract this terrifying trend.
In the letter, Lucy Alexander appealed for ‘children to be kind always and never stand by and leave bullying unreported.’ A sentiment we fully concur with.
How can you tell if your child is being bullied?
One of the main problems for parents is that children rarely wish to discuss the difficulties they are experiencing at school if they are being bullied. Often parents are the last people children will talk to, so it's often almost impossible to know if your child is having problems. There are of course, various signs that you should look out for, including the following:
- your child is reluctant to go to school - more so than usual
- they have become withdrawn
- they have difficulty sleeping
- they experience a sudden loss of appetite
- they begin to struggle academically when this has previously never been a problem
Obviously, if any of these signs are evident, you should make every effort to talk to your child to find out what's bothering him or her. If it transpires that your child is being bullied, then you need to turn to the school. It is important to ensure all your concerns are raised in writing with the school.
How can the school help?
Although it may be the last thing your child wants you to do, it is essential that you talk to the school about their bullying problem and then follow up your concerns in writing. In the first instance, think about who would be the best first person to talk to. Is there a particular teacher with whom your child has a good relationship?
Remember that the school is legally obliged to have an anti-bullying policy in place, so the first thing you may wish to do is ask them what their policy is. All schools also have an internal complaints procedure, so if you wish to complain, you should obtain a copy of that and follow it. Any complaint you make to the school should always be made in writing.
Remember that pupils can still be disciplined for bullying that occurs off school premises. This can include other physical environments - in the street, on the bus and so on - but also includes the internet.
In the event of your child sustaining serious and long term emotional, psychological and/or physical damage because of bullying, a damages claim may be an option through the courts but these cases are often very complex and it may be a more viable option to settle out of court.
Match Solicitors have dealt with many cases of bullying over the years. If your child is being bullied and you're unsure what to do about it, give us a call today and we can discuss your case with you in the strictest of confidence.
