Scotland - bullying advice at primary school, how to comaplain about school.

tiamai_d

Very quickly as I try to make dinner,

My DS1 (8) was punched square on the face today by another pupil as they exited the school doors into the playground. My husband was collecting and saw the whole thing. The teacher who was there to supervise was looking in that direction but didn't see it happen. My DS1 then told that teacher what happened (my husband was walking over towards them at this point) but she ignored him. She looked down at him. My Husband then asked her if she had seen what happened, she said no she didn't see and claimed not to have heard DS1.

When my husband spoke to DS1's teacher and the teacher who was at the door and was told that DS1 had been fighting in class today also and the subject of him being hit infront of a teacher and then ignored was brushed over. My husband asked if because DS1 was misbehaving then it is appropriate for him to be hit by a pupil and that incident ignored.

This is the last of a long line of incidents like this, where something has happened to DS1 but when we speak to the school about it the school then mentions that DS1 has done this or that and eventually the incident is forgotten about or we leave it in the hands of the school for them to deal with. A week later nothing has been done and they then say it's too late to do anything about it now.

I now wish to take this further. Regardless of what my son has done in class it is not acceptable for him to be punched in the face and then that incident ignored by a teacher even when he 'tells a teacher'.

The school are not dealing with this. I'm stuck as to what to do next. I will wriet a letter to the LEA, but is it worth reporting it to the police? Will it make the school pay attention? I also plan on keeping a diary.

That was longer than I planned, sorry!

Indie_Kid

Does the headteacher know?

tiamai_d

sh1305 wrote: »

Does the headteacher know?

She was out when it happened.

But she is aware that there is an ongoing problem.

cheepskate_2

Put a formal letter in to the head tomorrow and ask for a written reply.
Everytime there is an incident that you feel has not been dealt with properly , put it in writting. It may not make any difference, but by doing this you let the school know it is being documented.

Been there with the Edcation Authority and they will generally back up the school , thus if in writting it proves much more difficult for them to side with the school

*Louise*

I would make an appointment to speak to the head teacher, and discuss the problems you are having (send a letter first outlining your grievances and requesting the meeting). Make it clear that if the school doesn't start taking you seriously then you will go above them. That should be enough to make them take notice.

I don't think the police are the way to go just yet - but you could certainly mention to the head that that is what you are thinking about.

I totally sympathise, my son is having a similar problem at nursery, I witnessed myself (outisde nursery though) him being pinned down and punched by another boy. I have spoken to them twice already and am keeping a record of the times he says he is being punched or bitten (on the face!) and am about to go see the head myself. Horrible situation when they are only 4!

Good luck - there's nothing worse than your child being picked on and no one else being prepared to help deal with the situation.

tiamai_d

Thanks for replying. The problem is that I have already been here and had faith in the school and nothing changed so I really am at the very last straw stage.

I will be speaking to the head mistress tomorrow, but I will also be taking it further.

BubblyMumbles

Govan Law Centre might be worth an email.

suzih_2

I had similar problems with my sons school not listening to me. I even took him out of school for the day as a kind of protest. I told them that I did not send my son into school every day to be assaulted and if they could not guarantee his safety then I would keep him off until they did. Anyway nothing much happened and another parent told me to have a word with the local community police officer. He was brilliant and went straight to the school and spoke to the headmistress. He would have taken it further if need be. Things were a lot different after that thank god.