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Primary education

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WWYD about sustained bullying?

71 replies

CardyMow · 21/02/2012 18:21

DS2 is on the Autistic spectrum, but in MS school, now with no support (don't ask!).

Yesterday he came home complaining that his back hurt because 3 boys had kicked him - he had a red mark, and now has a slight bruise. He also complained that he felt dizzy all afternoon.

He says that he told the 'leader of the PALS' (PALS is something to do with helping those who are ontheir own at lunchtime?). She took him into the classroom for the rest of lunchtime.

I ended up having totake him to the doctors this morning over something unrelated, but he then went back to school, he was back by about 10am.

He has also had ongoing problems with people following him round the playground hitting him. When he tells the mid-day assistants, they just tell DS2 to walk away from these people.So he spends his WHOLE lunchtime trying to avoid them. Due to his Autism,he will only tell the MDA's once what is going on - it takes him alot to tell even once.He has to have already BEEN hit to tell IYSWIM.

Today I had a quick word with his teacher, and her response was: "Well he said he couldn't tell me WHO had done it, so we can't do anything or put it in the book. We only have 3 people to look after 300 pupils, what do you want us to do? We can't POSSIBLY see everything. And if we don't see it, and your DS2 can't or won't tell us who is doing it, then there is nothing we can do, and your DS2 is so over-sensitive anyway that a simple nudge is seen as a push and makes him complain. He's going to get jostled and pushed in a playground this busy and he just needs to deal with it. We DO have an issue with 3 particular boys, but they were kept off the playground for 2 weeks at the end of last half term. And anyway, the best we can do is keep your DS2 indoors and off the playground at lunchtime, which isn't fair on him. Now I've got to go". All said in a fairly aggresive tone of voice.

The last 2 weeks of last half term were the ONLY two weeks in nearly a year that DS2 was coming home from school HAPPY. He doesn't often talk about things though - due to his Autism and dyspraxia, he finds it difficult to process his emotions and talk about them - or even fully identify them!

First of all, the school has 408 pupils, not 300. Then there is the fact that they are basically saying that if anything happens that no-one saw,then they are just going to ignore it.

I have had NUMEROUS problems with bullying at this school, which has a history of punishing the VICTIM rather than the bully (DD AND DS1 have also had MASSIVE problems requiring hospital treatment through bullying at this school.) The Head and Deputy Head get ONE parent, on their own, refusing to allow any support during meetings, and they use bullying tactics against any parent who complains,like spurious allegations of 'aggressive behaviour' (I know of at least 12 people who have had issues like this)

NOW, when I spoke to DS2's teacher today, I HADN'T seen DS2, because he was at an after school club. When he came home, he complained about his back hurting. When I asked him why, he told me that the same boys 'got him' today, two of them held him down, while the other BIT him.

These are 7/8yo's in Y3!!

He actually has visible bite marks and a massive red patch (on the OTHER side from yesterday) on his back. FGS! He says he told one of the TA's. Appaprently, she told him to go and play. Nothing else. I have had NO accident slips for EITHER incident. (Not unusual when it comes to bullying incidents here)

The class teacher is OBVIOUSLY not going to help. If I go to the Head, it will be awful, and as usual, he will bully me to the point of tears. He won't let me take notes when I have memory problems due to my epilepsy either, and as a Lone Parent, I have NO-ONE who can gowith me that the Head will ALLOW in the room with me. He ONLY lets me go in on my own.

I CANNOT change schools - there just ISN'T another school with places in DS2's year group - his school HAS the bulge class for the area, DS2's year rgoup has 88 pupils in 3 classes, when it is a 2-form entry school. He has been on the waiting list for 6 other schools since Reception - I contact them regularly but DS2 is still about 35-ish on the waiting list for ALL of them.

This is also the same primary school that 2 years ago, DS1 got pushed over so badly due to lack of supervision that he had concussion for TWO FULL WEEKS, he blacked out and they didn't call an ambulance OR call me and send him home - they kept him in class, fast asleep at the table, and the hospital were so concerned that he might have a fractured skull that they gave him a CT scan. The HT LIED and said on the ACCIDENT FORM that he had tripped on a paving slab. When I EVENTUALLY got to see the HT, I got 'escorted' from the school, and accused of 'threatening and aggressive behaviour'. Yet a week later, they BEGGED me to help out on a school trip as I had passed their CRB check - so if I WAS TRULY threatening and abusive, they wouldn't do that, would they?!

I just don't know what to do. It feels like my only options are:

  1. Let the situation carry on, do nothing, and let DS2 get assaulted worse and worse.

  2. Go to the Head, be bullied myself to the point of tears, cause myself so much stress that it ends up with me having a seizure, and get nothing done ANYWAY, and be told that I am using 'threatening and abusive behaviour' again, and as it is the second time, I am banned from the school premises until they need someone with a CRB check to help with something.

  3. Pull my DS2 out of school totally, with NO HOPE of a school place within 30 miles - which is useless to ma as I can't drive due to my epilepsy, and my LA only pay for transport up to 6 miles away - anything OVER that, and it becomes the PARENT'S responsibility.

If you have got to the end of this essay, well done!

Now - WWYD? I NEED some help here. I am DESPERATE. I can't have my DS2 being ATTACKED to the point of having visible bruising and bite marks etc, and it will no doubt get worse, but the school is TOTALLY unwilling to engage with parents and SOLVE any bullying issues properly.

PLUS - my name is mud TBH, as I have previously complained to the LEA about them illegally taking away DD's SA+ help for 8 months when DD was a mid-year SEN transfer due to us moving to this area, put in 3 other complaints to the Board of Governors about previous bullying incidents, one to the Governors about DD's lack of progress at SA+ and the SenCo's abject refusal to support an application for a statement for her which was done within 2 weeks of her being at Secondary who couldn't BELIEVE that the primary hadn't insisted on it due to DD's complex SEN.

I have also reprted them to the DFE when they LIED on official paperwork about DS1's serious head injury - the HT admitted privately to me that he HAD lied on the forms, as he wanted the LEA to replace the paving slabs in the playground, and an 'accident' would help that - irrelavent of the fact that DS1 was PUSHED by a child who had been systematically ABUSING him from the start of Reception until that point in Y3! (DS1 is now in Y5).

I am NOT the favourite person at the school - and they treat me AWFULLY.

OH - and there hasn't been a Parent Partnership Officer in my area for OVER 3 YEARS. So that's a non-starter for support too!

OP posts:
CardyMow · 21/02/2012 22:30

I don't want to say on the thread where I live. Too identifying - I have lots of other personal details on MN, want to NOT have my town connected to that as I would then be VERY identifiable.

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CardyMow · 21/02/2012 22:34

What do I do if I am told that I am banned from the school grounds due tocrying 'threatening and abusive behaviour'?

I can't RISK that. And the HT KNOWS IT. He just threatens everyone who has problems with that. He has done it to one of my other friends who has a diabetic son - obviously she needs to be able to go onto the school grounds to be able to tell the teacher if he needs watching for Hypo's due to his blood sugar levels that morning - so SHE can't risk taking her complaints of her DS being bullied further EITHER.

OP posts:
garlicfrother · 21/02/2012 22:36

Hmm, well you can record him without telling (legal) but you don't then have the right to play it to any 3rd parties. So it's your words against each other. Finding another MNer to come with you looks like a good idea: if you were lucky enough to find a volunteer who's a child psychologist or similar, head would have to agree surely?

I do agree with the measured and persistent approach - be the dripping tap! Meanwhile, though, you can't have DS being traumatised so much he stops learning and/or develops a fear of other kids. How's he bearing up? Have you identified any kind and bully-proof kids who'd take him in hand?

CardyMow · 21/02/2012 22:40

I'm honestly NOT the only parent who has had issues like this - but it's almost as if the HT 'puts up' with our families and dc 'under duress' from the LEA IYSWIM. As there is NO-WHERE else for our dc to go.

Which, again, seems to give the HT carte blanche to do whatever the hell he likes - because he KNOWS we can't get our dc into another school.

One woman was told to get a doctors note because her ds had had ONE DAY in a whole year off sick - and even said, in front of the boy, who had been put on AB's by our VERY reluctant GP's for a CHEST INFECTION, that he was 'putting it on', and suggested to his mother that she just wanted to 'keep him at home because she was a single mother and was lonely', and if her DS missed another day off sick, he would call SS because she was 'doing her son a disservice' by pandering to him for her own needs...

So she sent her ill child to school the next day, he collapsed straight after school (as they didn't phone her), and got rushed to hospital. Who then called SS because she had 'neglected his health' by sending her ds to school when he was sick...

He rules with threats and fear - and because we want to put our dc first, we all keep dancing to his tune in the end, even if we seem like strong people to start with.

I just don't know what to do for my DS's. Sad

OP posts:
garlicfrother · 21/02/2012 22:41

Or ... this worked for one of my other nephews ... team up with other geeky & vulnerable DC to form their own little geek club. Reading about your pal's diabetic son reminded me of that. Together they made a 'unit' that were laughed at, but gained confidence from one another so were no longer a weak target. All at uni doing advanced computery things now, you'll be pleased to hear!

My own parents coached on forming an 'army' when it was my turn to be picked on, but I can't see that working for an autistic child.

Heswall · 21/02/2012 22:41

I would record him on your phone and then take it to the local press. what are they going to do then ?
I actually did this as a child when my teacher refused to deal with a bully, going to the press not recording. It went on the front page the following week.
The head teacher is as much of a bully as the other kids IMO.

Can you talk to your eldest childs father and ask him to let you apply for another school from his address ?

ifeelloved · 21/02/2012 22:42

But if you're writing non emotional, factual letters and copying others in, he can;t accuse you of threatening and agressive behaviour. Also you get to put in writing to everyone what is happening.

And I totally understand why you don;t want to say where you are.

CardyMow · 21/02/2012 22:46

There is NO WAY he will do that. Ex-H is, erm, very oppositional at best, and got the PSO because of access.

Last time I tried toget it changed, I was told that it could ONLY be changed if I could drop DS1 at Ex-H's door by 3.20pm. Which, even if I COULD drive would be physically impossible from ANY other part of my town. And I CAN'T drive.

That, changing the PSO, is never gonna happen - or not until it is lifted when he turns 18yo. (Yes, I know he will have to change school at 11yo, but the PSO keeping me here runs till he is 18yo...). He is 9yo...

OP posts:
RandomMess · 21/02/2012 22:48

Do your dc get any support as young carers?

CardyMow · 21/02/2012 22:50

In a word - NO.

I get no support, despite SS stating in a care plan that I need it. DC's get no support, despite being Young Carers (I can't get them to the group because I don't drive, and SS can't help me to get them there...).

I LOVE MY TOWN.

OP posts:
Heswall · 21/02/2012 22:51

I would in that case record the conversations, catch the head lying and go to the press.

RandomMess · 21/02/2012 22:52

TAckle your MP on the lack of all of these provisions.

Theas18 · 21/02/2012 23:40

Take a voice recorder to any meetings- you probably have one on your phone. Do not covertly record but if they won't let you record conversations or take notes or a witness that is mighty osd

CardyMow · 21/02/2012 23:57

It isn't mighty odd when you bear in mind that they want you to drop ANY accusations that may cause their ofsted rating to be in jeopardy. And having a witness to a discussion, or a recording of it, or even shorthand minutes, would affect their ability to hush you with threats...

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choccyp1g · 22/02/2012 09:55

I've read your posts with mounting horror, it is shocking that a bullying HT can ruin childrens' experience of school in this way.

Have you heard about PARENTVIEW parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/

It asks for parents views of their schools, and does say that OFSTED will look at it when deciding which schools to inspect.

choccyp1g · 22/02/2012 09:57

Didn't mean to press post so quickly, I was wondering if you could get a group of parents to complete it, being honest about all aspects of the school, but in particular slating them on the bullying safety type questions.

No doubt the head would argue that it is just a group of disgruntled parents, but OFSTED would at least ask to see their anti-bullying policy and nose around a bit.

IndigoBell · 22/02/2012 10:38

:(

Could you take him home at lunch time?

It's not at all a good solution - but there really doesn't seem to be a good solution.

:(

I think I would appeal for a place at another school. Now he's in Y3 it's slightly easier to get into than when he was in the infants.

And I'd also keep him at home any time he's stressed. School really won't like that. With any luck they'll set the EWO on to you and you can explain why you can't send your kid to school.......

jamdonut · 22/02/2012 11:21

Is the school due an OFSTED? You have the right to talk to one of the Officers when they come. School can't stop that, and you wouldn't have the head in...it's not allowed. The only problem would be you'd have to insist on giving a letter of request directly into their hands , in case the school somehow, "lost" it. Hmm

learnandsay · 22/02/2012 14:45

Put a camera on him.

CardyMow · 22/02/2012 20:22

They had an Ofsted inspection less than a year ago, we weren't even ALLOWED to SEE the ofsted officer. I handed the parent questionnaire into the office - it NEVER MADE IT TO OFSTED. I had to hand it into the office, as we weren't allowed to see the officer. I ended up sending a copy directly to Ofsted. But it never made it into even the FULL online version of the Ofsted report. Despite me sending it signed-for. Hmm.

I AND at least 3 others that are unhappy with the school have ALREADY done the parent questionnaire online, highlighting the bullying issues.

I will be back later to update on what happened today once 13yo DD is in bed.

OP posts:
ifeelloved · 23/02/2012 07:04

I'm going to show this to dh who is a governor and find out what they should be doing. This is crap

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