Dd really struggling

[ShepherdMoons]

I’ve posted recently about my 8 year old dd who is in a class of 10 children at school. They were a 9 but a new girl joined last term and the new girl plays with dds bestie and leaves dd out.

So far I’ve encouraged that dd plays with other people and haven’t spoken to the girls’ mums about it. Because dd is a bit lost a boy has targeted her and has been following her around the playground hitting, slapping and pushing her. He does this whilst pretending to play with her then he will change and turn mean.

Yesterday I was dropping dd off at school and he did this in front of me! As soon as dd saw this boy she turned to face the school wall and went quiet. He came and slapped her hard on the back and pushed her. When I stepped in and told him off he immediately went to his little sister and pushed her over (she fell on the floor and started crying). The mum is someone I know so I spoke to her about it afterwards. I have asked the school to keep an eye on it but dd said yesterday that she spent lunchtime trying to hide from him. The dinner ladies tend to stand in one spot and the children are expected to go to them.

I’m feeling a bit a bit of a loss as to what to do. Do I move dd to another school? AIBU to feel so upset about sending her back every day when she is so miserable? The teacher said she’d have a little word with this boy but so far it doesn’t seem like much is happening.

@Ledition dd tries to play with others but just two more girls to choose from in her class. The boys play together and the naughty boy plays rough with them.

Hmmm well then I suppose she would have a better chance at a bigger school. I'd just worry that being a little bit older that it may be hard to assimilate into pre-formed friendship groups - although that wasn't the case for the new girl in her class I suppose!

Look into schools and see how you and DD feel about them, just make sure they're bigger.

If you have a good larger school close by, I would move her. Not so much because of the little boy, because every school has one of those, and she would be better off learning now to give him a good shove.

But so few girls to play with, and a dynamic that excludes her... I don't see this improving. If she's willing to make the change I would probably do it.

I spoke to my dd's friend's mum this morning and her dd said she didn't think they were leaving my dd out. It is very difficult to know what is going on because I'm getting a different version of events from dd.

I will keep an eye on the situation and also make some enquiries at other local schools.

My worry is that Year 5 and 6 could be extremely difficult for dd in a class so small especially with so few girls to join in with.

I think you're right, Y5&6 could be very hard, that is an extremely small group of potential friends.
I would definitely look at other schools, see what's available and decide once you have more information.
Dd's BF may not mean to leave her out but it's unlikely that things will get better while this other girl is around.

Good luck looking round new schools.