Unhealthy friendship

[elsieandthepooch]

DD is in a 2 form primary and has just started year 1. She has a "friendship" with another girl in the opposite year 1 class that we requested she was separated from after numerous problems throughout reception.

We have not encouraged this friendship as DD spent much of her reception year in tears and not wanting to go to school. The other little girl has said unpleasant things and has also physically hurt my DD.

The teacher last year match DD with a play buddy as she agreed it was an unhealthy dynamic. She did the same with the other girl. DD formed a lovely friendship with her play buddy and she was in her words "glad to be away" from the other girl.

Unfortunately the other girl decided she wanted DD's play buddy to be her best friend which resulted in a lot of upset for DD as she was excluded from playing with her play buddy on the playground and told to go away.

I wasn't too concerned as I knew DD was in the other class, but unfortunately nothing has changed and this other girl is continuing to target and exclude DD. The final straw for me this week was when DD was shoved by this girl and fell and hit her head. It was witnessed by my friends Y6 child and several of her friends.

This situation is restricting DD from developing other friendships and whoever she tries to befriend this other girl comes along each time.

I've asked for a meeting with the school but DH is do enraged he thinks we should contact the other mother and tell her what is happening and ask her to tell her DD to not play with our DD.

When I write it down it sounds petty, but it isn't when each day my 5 year old is coming home sad. Any advice?

I would give the school chance to deal with it before going to the other parent but l understand why your DH feels like that - mine would too

Well the school have do far ignored my message and failed to tell me re head bump.

Yes speak to the school and see what they say/suggest. See if it sounds like it will address the issue/s. At the same time, consider/research alternative schools (good to know even if you don't decide to pursue this).

I wouldn't bother speaking to the other parent, unless you already know them quite well. If you don't know them, I definitely wouldn't approach them (you may get an unpleasant response, or make the situation worse).

I had a parent contact me regarding my apparently 'bossy' child and not wanting her to play with her child. The frustrating thing about this was, whilst I want to help and can speak to my child about it, I'm not physically at school to distance them, so really the school is who needs to be involved here. I would not recommend going via the parent, especially if your DH is enraged it risks there being a message full of emotion, which is what I received and really wasn't helpful to the situation. Ask the school to make them aware is one option.