Is your child exposed to bullying?

As the first schoolboy in the UK wins a landmark pay out for classroom bullying, Moore Blatch Resolve confirms that there has been a marked increase in these types of incidents at schools.
 
Moore Blatch Resolve education expert, Leena Hurloll, says that they are increasingly receiving enquiries from parents that are unhappy with how incidents of bullying are being dealt with at schools and are concerned as to the lasting effects on children.
 
“Apart from the devastating emotional impact bullying can have on a child; it can also really affect their ability to learn and achieve academic success.
 
“Many children that are being bullied will choose to skip classes and opt out of any additional educational opportunities, which eventually impacts on studies and could see them performing quite poorly,” said Leena.
 
The recent outcome in the case of Jed Winfindale demonstrates the seriousness of bullying and the responsibilities that schools have to prevent incidents like this occurring.
 
Ahead of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week which runs from 14-25 November 2011, Jed’s case will help support and raise awareness of bullying and its consequences.
 
Currently schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy in place, which must be made clear to teachers, pupils and parents and comply with the Human Rights Act 1998.
 
Leena continues: “Schools have a duty of care towards pupils which includes promptly responding to and effectively solving issues of bullying.”

For parents that are concerned about their child being bullied, Leena provides some advice below on how to tackle this issue:

• For a school to be able to deal with bullying, any incidents must be reported to staff, which could initially be with your child’s class teacher.
• Once reported the school should investigate any behaviour and act quickly to prevent a reoccurrence.  This would also include help for the bully, who may need support to change his/her behaviour.
• Depending on the level of bullying schools have a number of options available to them, which can include exclusion in very serious cases.
• Even after any incidents of bullying have been resolved, the school should continue to monitor behaviour to reassure both the parent and child.
• Parents are advised to keep copies of correspondence between the school and detailed notes of any discussions.