DD2 (7) is currently having problems with a girl in her class who is the year below her. Luckily DD is very strong and won't let herself be walked over, but this girl is trying her best to bully DD. Things like hitting DD then going to the teacher and saying that my DD hit her. And saying horrible things to DD and then coming out of school and putting on an oscar-winning performance at pick up time screaming and crying and pointing at my DD and saying "She has been horrible to me". DD says this girl is constantly picking on her and whispering about her to people too. It's all very unpleasant. I've spoken to the teacher who has been reasonably supportive but a bit "on the fence" and seems reluctant to tackle it. This girl will also do things such as start walking with us home from school (with her mum) and then try to push my DD onto the road. Her mum says nothing, she thinks her daughter can do no wrong and her daughter is totally spoilt.
My DD has always been really popular at school, other parents say their DCs say what a nice girl she is and teachers always describe her as mature, considerate and kind. She isn't the type to try to bully someone or to be deliberately unkind, she hates it if she has upset someone. She is assertive though, but not aggressive. She has a very established group of friends, in her year group, that she has had since nursery, but unfortunately wasn't put in a class with any of them this year apart from 2 boys. I have had a phone call from another mum this week saying that her daughter has witnessed this other girl being awful to my DD and she thought I ought to know. We have told DD to just stay away from this girl and if the girl says anything to just tell her "you are being unkind, leave me alone" and walk away.
I tried talking to the other girls' mum to see if we could get together with the girls to try and sort it out and the mum basically said that my daughter is older than hers therefore it wouldn't be possible for her daughter to bully mine, and that it's awful that her daughter is so upset about the whole thing. The mum has already told me her daughter's behaviour is challenging, her daughter has done things such as trying to push her down the stairs! The mum was very defensive and I know I won't get any logic or sense out of her as she won't look at the situation objectively at all. I ended up saying to her that she really needs to tell her DD to stay away from mine, and that if the girls stay separate then there will be no further issues, as my DD has assured me she doesn't go near this girl.
I really don't know what to do from here. I don't want to make too much of a fuss because I think DD is in the main capable of dealing with it herself, but at the same time I think it needs nipping in the bud as this girl will just carry on doing it to others and it will surely get worse in time.