Year 7 bus trouble

[colourdilemma]

My dd is in year seven and doing well at settling. She has a group of friends at school and is keeping up with work etc.
She has to get the bus there and back, which is fine in many ways. However, there is a boy from her old school who is not settling well at the school and in trouble a fair bit. Additionally, he has been really mean to a number of children including dd. On the bus, this has included saying quite explicit things about dd to other, bigger kids. Yesterday, dd told me he had taken photos of her on his phone and whatsapped them to others with inappropriate comments on them.

I did log the comments before with the school. I would rather dd learnt to deal with him by belittling and ignoring the comments, but I am also aware that dd needs to feel safe and happy on the bus.

What would your view be on how to deal with this?

Discuss with school. What other options are there?

She does need to get the bus most journeys. I can pick her up sometimes but it’s not going to be able to be every day. There is a later bus that she could catch if she stayed for a club or to do homework.

I know the boy’s mum well and could talk to her. She is a sensible person, but obviously, it’s not the easiest conversation to have and I wonder if it will have the desire effect. School were perfectly happy to take it further last time. Dd wants me to say nothing to school but I have no problem doing so with her knowledge as, if this is bullying (so far I think he is being mean and wrong but not enough pattern to call it bullying), it would thrive on silence.

Just don’t want to wade in if dd can get it sorted without.

Don't speak to the mother. Speak to School

That’s always my gut feeling. However, I know he’s in trouble and part of me wonders if she might be able to intervene before it gets to School level. This could be rather naive. I am a primary teacher and I’ve rarely known this approach to go smoothly!!

I would go to school first. If they are dealing with other issues they need to know about it. Explain to your dd that you have to tell school as his actions are very serious.