To not know how best to deal with this (school)

[Ilovehamabeads]

My DD is in year 7. She has plenty friends but for a while she's been having trouble with one boy who singles her out to call her a nasty name over and over. It relates to her appearance and she's finding it very hurtful.

She's tried ignoring him, not working. I tried to help her with a witty comeback but she's not confident enough to do that. She's asked the teacher to move her but even that hasn't helped, as he comes over to say it in her face.

We're lucky to have come so far through the school system without encountering any issues like this. Consequently though, I have no real idea how best to help her. Would you think it's enough of a problem to contact school? Does it even count as bullying?

Yes, I would class this as verbal bullying and I would contact the school. Class teacher first, then escalate to head of year or head teacher if nothing gets done.

Yes it is bullying. You should definitely speak to the school and get it nipped in the bud.

Speak to her head of year and get the boy pulled up on it. We are super strict about this kind of thing, pulled up a kid today who's been trying to intimidate one of my form. I was super polite, but very firm about what is and what isn't acceptable to say. It's a point where my little lad is trying to refuse to come in. Don't let this snowball, OP, sort it via Head of Year.

Agree with pp this is unacceptable behaviour and needs to be addressed. Form tutor first and head of house/year if not dealt with.

You could write an email explaining what's happening and the impact on your DD's feelings, then send it to the school and request that it be sent to your DD's form tutor. They should then contact you and reassure you that they will deal with it as promptly as possible.

Contacting the form tutor should be enough because if the child still persists in calling her this name, then a good form tutor will escalate it themselves to the Head of Year and both members of staff will tackle the issue, appropriate punishments will be set, parents will be contacted etc.

Your DD MUST however stay brave and continue to report any negative things done by this boy or his allies.

I constantly encourage my form pupils to be honest with me after they admitted to feeling that teachers don't do anything about bullying, but it's impossible to act if we don't get told about it.

Your poor DD shouldn't have to put up with this.

Thank you so much, I will contact her form teacher tomorrow and get this sorted out.

Good luck.
A phonecall is just as effective but an email starts a paper trail.

That said, I often get emails from reception asking me to telephone parents with a brief reason. Her form tutor should ring back at first opportunity.