DD struggled most of last year with a friendship that became increasingly sour. The 'friend' has a difficult home life, struggles generally with behaviour etc and IMO needs support, guidance and tlc as well as firm boundaries. I really feel for her but there's not much I can do and I need to put DD first. Their friendship was always intense with lots of ups and downs but last year the child became possessive, wanting DD to herself and being unkind and manipulative to get DD to play with her (no one wants you, you're a liar, your rubbish at this and that, pestering and following DD so she couldn't join other games at play time etc).
Spoke to the teachers many times last year, very little was done, but they are now in separate classes. Thought all was going OK, they were playing often together but no reports of unkindness until DD came home today saying this 'friend' has hit and kicked her. She did admit that she shoved the child back, but only after running away and being hit/kicked several times.
To me this is unacceptable and I will speak to the teacher and have said to DD that she is not allowed to play with this child anymore. DD was relived but is worried about how she will enforce it ('friend will just hit me if I say I can't play with her).
I feel totally exasperated to be honest. We had this all last year and nothing done about it. DD told by teachers to just ignore it (this after coming home with marks from being kicked). DD is a quiet, anxious sort and will put on a brave face until she gets home. She has SAID directly to teachers in the past 'I need your help to not play with the bully' but they just leave her to it because she doesn't make a fuss.
Is it unreasonable of me to expect the school to keep these two apart? I just feel its a lot to expect a 7 year old to have the tools to manage this situation alone. Dd tries to say no and avoid the child but ends up playing with her anyway. Is it really DD's responsibility alone to stick up for herself and stay away from the child? I also think the bully needs support but nothing is being done and I dont see the situation resolving without proper help from school.
Sorry for the long post just hoping to get some perspective on this. TIA