Child strangled by another child, who's constantly attacking/provoking my child

[IkeSmile]

An incident in school where a child put his hand around another's child neck.
The victim is my child and this is just the latest attack on my child. He is regularly attacked or provoked by this other child. Puched off the stairs, twice in 5 days, ended up with marks; forcely blocked in the toilet, by the same child; called names, laughted at, threatened by the older sibling on the school premises, twice in the same day...and so on...and the school doesn't do anything.
"I exaggerated and I have something personal with the other child" the headteacher said before even listening and accused me of being ABUSIVE. The NSPCC gave me a ref no and I'll not stop till my child feels safeguarded by the school. Till now, he only said he feels not listened to, and the perpetrator is attacking other children aswell. The mother is passive aggressive towards me!

? If this happened to you, what were the results?
Tia

Report the strangling and punching to the police? How old are the children?

Hello! My child is 7½, the other one is 8, so year 3. He is constantly picking up on my child.

What ages are the children? Report every incident in writing. Any attacks leaving marks or bruises should be reported to the police.

My child is 7½ the other one is 8. I had no idea the police could by involved at this age.
Thank you!

The police won't do anything under the age of 10. If you get a good police officer they might have a chat with the family but even that is unlikely these days.

I would move your child's school. The school don't want to do anything about it, so even complaining won't do anything. Just move schools and let your son enjoy school without fear.

Move schools. Shouldn't even be a question.

I’d say tell the school you’re going to report to the police and see if this “motivates” them to do something about it.

If the head teacher is ignoring the issue, escalate to the governors asap.

Children under 10 can’t be charged with a crime but if you report to the police they can see if a child safety order or referral to SS is appropriate for example. It would mostly be useful for signalling to the school and parents that you are serious though.

The school have a duty of care to your child, if they continually ignore or minimise violent behaviour then they are failing in their duty. If the behaviour is severe and/or escalating and the school is not putting safety protocols in place then speak to the NSPCC about involving Child Protection Services. Make sure you are corresponding in writing with the school so it is all documented.

I am afraid that changing school will make him feel even more frustrated, as he said he will lose the friends he has already. Running from the issue instead of sorting it, wouldn't make him always run away?
I feel that one child should not ruin a whole class, just because 99% of the school employees are from the same coulture and we're not. My child's reports are extremely good, 1st in his year at maths; I'm afraid that changing school is too much for him, no matter how mych support we as parents can offer. Sometimes friendship at this age is more important than we think.
Thank you! It's good to know the age police gets involved. ♡

I'd go straight to the board of governors with a serious complaint about the school failing repeatedly to provide a safe environment for your child and saying you will remove your child from classes with immediate effect until their bullying bpolicy is effective and implemented so that your child is guaranteed protection from this child at all times, ideally by excluding or expelling the child.

Contact social workers and report the child's behaviour as symptomatic of issues with violence at home.

I'd report it to the police and explain you are doing this so that there is a clear record of why you are keeping your child away from school, if the school ever challenges low attendance.

And obviously, keep your child away form school until it is sorted out and reassure them in every possible way that they have done nothing wrong, that they are lovely and this should never happen at school. School should be a calm place for learning and that you promise to keep them safe until it is.

I'd also invite lots of friends around for playdates, sleepovers, trips to swimming baths, local farms etc so that your child's socialisation skills don't suffer until it is sorted. I hope you took photos of the marks inflicted.

I have already been in contact today with the NSPCC, and got a ref no plus some notes. I only found this site now, and I'm glad to see so many to respond. This gives me confidence to continue and support my child the best I can, and make the school react and put the Section 47 of The Children Act in practice for every single child.
Thank you!

You need to have a talk with the school and have a meeting with the person of the child that's being bullied. Something has to be done. The school is responsible for protecting your child while he's in their care, and if they seem like they don't care and aren't doing anything about it, other measures need to be taken so that this problem is resolved. Kids go to school to learn, not to be victimized and bullied while in attendance. Your child deserves to be in a safe environment while learning and It is abuse and neglect if they choose to do nothing. And even after you've had this meeting and nothing changes, it's time to go to their authority figures and plead your case so something can be done about it. Do not give up, fight this. I recommend you going to your child's school board of education so that consequences will be implemented if they continue to ignore what's going on, and not for just the child doing the bullying but the parent and staff at his school as well. I understand as a parent what it's like to go through this which is why I'm trying to tell you what options could help you in this situation. You just have to be strong and make sure you follow through with whatever you have to do and your son will be just fine, just make sure you let them know that you mean business.

You mention not being from the same culture - is this also true of the child causing problems. Could this be described as a racially motivated attack?
If so, you might get them to sit up and take notice?

Sorry but imo my DCs safety comes first. What long term damage could this do?
How is continuing to keep your child at a school where they are being physically assaulted teaching them anything?
Friendships are easily made at this age and I personally wouldn't put that above the safety of my child.

I know it's hard when your child is being hurt, but try to remain factual, calm and professional in your logging of incidents and reports, then it's harder for them to dismiss you as emotional/hysterical etc.

Thank you! I'm happy to find support here, and to see people that understand the seriousness of this. ♡

I understand what you're saying but if we always run from the issue, it will always hunt us. Someone needs to stand up and make the school and the parents of this child understand that something isn't right with him. That might help everyone involved. My son and that child. He might need support in managing his anger issues, if there are.
Thank you!

You can stand up and fight once your child is safe! Moving your child to a safe place isn't running away

Exactly! Racism is on the table aswell.
There were two instances where a child from the same country as us joined the school and this child (always him) said "Why are so many ... coming to our school?", and then laughing about the child's appearance.
But racism doesn't scare me, thw violence of a child though, so scare me.

Also true.

This is why I have contacted the NSPCC when I realised that emails and talking to the school won't lead me anywhere.

The racism and violence are interlinked clearly from what you’ve said. The trauma that both of these things can do to a child is immense.

I know a young girl who died by suicide partly due to racial bullying and ostracisation. Don’t be complacent about any of this (not saying you are btw) or let the teachers gaslight you into minimising this.

Keep fighting for what is right and for your child.

Ps. My friends child was assaulted by a gang of bullies and it was on video! It was on school grounds after school and the school tried to ignore it when she complained, but my friend said she was going to take it to the papers (she had no intention of doing so).

Not saying you should necessarily say that but the point is she put pressure on them and they caved immediately and disciplined the kids involved and put some protective
measures around her child.