Bully seems to be winning yet again

[Soveryfedup1]

looking for some advice.

my primary aged child has been bullied for a long period of time by another child in his friendship group. The bullying is often violent.

The school are aware and this has been going on for over 18 months.

What can I expect at lunchtime from the school to protect my child?

Does my child have to compromise and be restricted to an area away from the bully at lunchtimes? Should he be split from his friendship group at times so the bully can also play with his friends. It could even be my son ends up excluded from the group.

I just feel that all the options offered mean that the inclusion of the bully is punishing my son. In many ways the bully is getting preferential treatment. And I am really really very angry about it all.

Probably a bit of a rant and I do understand that the school are in a difficult position as they have a responsibility to both children, but my son is completely innocent in all of this. And the bullying is getting what he wants which is separating my son from his best friend at times (and it’s not always easy to say no to this boy)

I guess I am just looking for suggestions on how I can stop my boy being strangled whilst keeping him with his good friends.

Your child has endured violent bullying for 18 months with no improvement and you haven’t moved him?

The school sound abysmal

It’s not constant violence but a number of occasions! And my son loves school and he loves his friends. Moving school would have been incredibly upsetting for my son.

How “occasional”?

How old?

Once, maybe twice a term. Other niggles but nothing too serious. I think jealousy plays a bit of a part in it all. And my son saying no.

And only a few weeks left at primary so will not move now

Different high school thank goodness

Well sadly he’s had to suck it up for 18 months with no success in addressing it so I suppose another few weeks in neither here nor there.

Poor boy. Hopefully high school will be a very different experience

I’d be arranging as many play dates with his closest friends as possible

This! Invite all his other friends over after school and take them to do some fun activities, sleepovers at the weekend? Try and make his life outside school as great as possible and remind him that once he goes to high school, he won't have to deal with the bully any more. In the meantime, don't encourage your son to isolate from his friendship group at break - make it clear to the school that you expect them to keep your son safe and remove the bully from the group if he's aggressive.