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Reception DD Being Assaulted

143 replies

kurotora · 22/03/2025 22:58

AIBU to think that it’s not normal for a child in Reception to come home regularly with injuries from another child - eg black eye, split lip, lots of bruising?

Our DD is 4 years old, and on a weekly/biweekly basis she will come home with the aforementioned kind of wounds, all from one particular boy in her class. I have been at the school, sent emails, taken photos. The response has been frustrating - a lot of outright denial that they saw anything when DD says otherwise, minimising, implying that it “must have been a fall”. We have seen him go for her, zero in on her and harass her at class parties, and the school have acknowledged this in a roundabout way, but have been very unhelpful. DD is a quiet, shy girl with an autism diagnosis who finds it very very hard to speak up, especially when upset, and they are putting the onus on her to tell the teachers when this is happening.

The best we have had is that they’re “keeping them apart” which sounds ludicrous and impractical in a rowdy class of 30, but we will also get Tapestry updates with photos of them sat near each other etc. So we know that’s not happening.

I feel very powerless and it seems absolutely abnormal to me that a little girl should just have to deal with being assaulted like this. There was definitely never any injuries like this when I was at primary school and I came from a much rougher place than we live now!

OP posts:
SillySallie · 22/03/2025 23:24

AIBU to think that it’s not normal for a child in Reception to come home regularly with injuries from another child - eg black eye, split lip, lots of bruising?

No, this is not normal. Personally, if the school weren’t taking this seriously I’d be escalating a complaint, they have a duty of care to keep your child safe while they are in loco parentis. They have a legal responsibility to protect your child and they’re clearly failing.

It doesn’t matter if schools are short of staff etc, their duty is to protect all children. No child should be subjected to coming home every few weeks with these injuries.

Franjipanl8r · 22/03/2025 23:24

Agree with others to take her out immediately and tell the school you can’t send her in as she isn’t safe. Start looking for a new school, there’s no way you’ll be able to have faith in them as a school going forward.

kathryn77 · 22/03/2025 23:22

Email school head teacher and chair of governors regarding their need to safe guard your daughter and prevent bullying from happening. Detailing all information.
downlaod safeguarding and bullying policy off website (should be visible) and quote that.
failing that make a formal complaint to Ofsted/LEA.

GiddyCrab · 22/03/2025 23:22

Formal complaint to board of governors
Local authority
Ofsted
Cc in headteacher. I threatened to go to the local newspaper too.
Stand up for your daughter. She is not safe at that school. It is disgusting.

Franjipanl8r · 22/03/2025 23:21

Been in your position and we moved schools, best decision we made. Can you pull her out and apply to start reception again elsewhere in September? If she’s 4 at this age she’s young for her year. If she’s a bit bigger and older in her year she might be less likely to be picked on again.

HappyEarl · 22/03/2025 23:21

This child is going to traumatise your child - please do not allow this to continue. Write a handwritten letter to the head, meet with the other child’s parents. You need to tell the school your daughters physical and mental health is not being safeguarded.

Realityisreal · 22/03/2025 23:18

Please email the school and governors and tell them that they are failing in their duty of care to your daughter.
List all of the incidents and the action they said they would take but didn't.
Advise then you will be informing Ofsted of things don't stop within a week.
Schools are overstretched, some children require support that they don't get, but your daughter should not be in fear of being attacked every day at school.

LucyBee0ox · 22/03/2025 23:17

kurotora · 22/03/2025 23:12

We have applied for an in year transfer but all the schools near us are full. We requested on social grounds and provided photos and a description of what was happening, but were declined an immediate move - I’m really not sure what to do if we can’t get her into a school or if we have any grounds to appeal (I was told by the council that this is very unlikely to succeed).

You should still take her out? Could you not homeschool her until she gets another place? You can’t send her somewhere she’s being violently attacked to the point she has injuries. This will causes permanent trauma.

kurotora · 22/03/2025 23:14

Just to say, the school have an Ofsted Outstanding which was renewed within the last year, I struggle to see how because we don’t feel at all supported. We can certainly see the teacher and pastoral lead at any time but it has achieved nothing, just “she has to speak up and tell us”.

OP posts:
kurotora · 22/03/2025 23:12

LucyBee0ox · 22/03/2025 23:06

YABU for leaving her at that school! Remove her immediately! Imagine if you were getting punched and kicked and have bruises every week?! If that was happening to you in a work place would you continue to go?! But it’s fine for your daughter?

We have applied for an in year transfer but all the schools near us are full. We requested on social grounds and provided photos and a description of what was happening, but were declined an immediate move - I’m really not sure what to do if we can’t get her into a school or if we have any grounds to appeal (I was told by the council that this is very unlikely to succeed).

OP posts:
Gymrabbit · 22/03/2025 23:10

This is not normal and it’s even more abnormal that the school don’t care. My daughters have been hit a few times over the course of their school career but they are in years 3 and 5 now and I’d say a total of 5 times between them in a total of 8 years. In each occasion the school either phoned or sent a note home to explain what had happened.
The school sound neglectful.

MyHorseShadow · 22/03/2025 23:07

Home school she's too young yet

LucyBee0ox · 22/03/2025 23:06

YABU for leaving her at that school! Remove her immediately! Imagine if you were getting punched and kicked and have bruises every week?! If that was happening to you in a work place would you continue to go?! But it’s fine for your daughter?

anonhop · 22/03/2025 23:04

Complain to LEA or the multi academy trust & move your child. It’s not right that she’s the one that has to move but please keep your DD safe. You wouldn’t force an adult to go and be assaulted somewhere every day. Even in prisons, they try to keep the low level inmates away from the dangerous ones to keep them safe. Your DD should not be assaulted regularly.

Lavender14 · 22/03/2025 23:03

I would be making a formal complaint in writing and ensuring it goes to the board of governors as well. Obviously 4 is very wee still and I do have sympathy for any child who's inflicting such awful injuries on others as there's very likely a reason behind the behaviour and in part I appreciate when schools try to work with challenging pupils. However- it's not your dds problem and she deserves to be safe in school. The school are ultimately letting both pupils down here (and likely others). I'd raise the complaint but in all honesty I'd probably be looking to move school due to such an ineffective and untruthful response from the school. I'm sorry op that must be really distressing for your dd and for you to see her coming home like that.

Overthebow · 22/03/2025 23:03

No not normal and not ok. My dd is in reception and hasn’t had any injuries from other children at all and I wouldn’t expect her to. You need to make an appointment with the headteacher and ask how they are going to safeguard your child and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Hankunamatata · 22/03/2025 23:02

Move her school if your not getting anywhere

KnickerlessFlannel · 22/03/2025 23:01

Ask for her to be moved classes or move schools. Their response is shoddy and I wouldn't trust them to keep her safe tbh