Steps for Parents When School Is Ignoring Bullying

by Jan 7, 2025

What Can Parents Do if Their Child is Being Bullied and the School Ignores It?

As a hypnotherapist who often works with children, I regularly see the devastating effects bullying has on young people. It knocks their confidence, shatters their self-esteem, and leaves lasting emotional scars. Unfortunately, despite raising concerns, some parents are met with a frustrating response from schools that claim, “There’s no bullying here. We don’t allow it.”

But what can you, as a parent, do when your child is being bullied day in and day out, and the school seems to turn a blind eye?

Step 1: Escalating Beyond the Headteacher

If you’ve already approached the headteacher and they have dismissed your concerns or failed to address the issue, your next step is to go to the Chair of Governors. Every school has a governing body, and their contact details should be available through the school office. By law, the school must provide you with this information.

Write to the Chair of Governors, detailing your concerns and including any correspondence you’ve had with the school. Using words like school bullying ignored by teachers or steps for parents if schools won’t stop bullying in your notes might even resonate with broader conversations around unresolved bullying cases.

Step 2: Involving the Local Education Authority (LEA)

If the issue still hasn’t been resolved after reaching out to the Chair of Governors, it’s important to escalate the matter to the Local Education Authority (LEA) in the area where your child’s school is located.

The LEA oversees schools and has a responsibility to ensure they follow proper safeguarding procedures.

Bullying is not just a school issue. It is a safeguarding concern, and it must be treated as such. For instance, unresolved bullying can leave your child frightened to attend school and impact their mental health.

When contacting the LEA, make sure to document everything clearly. Use phrases like school bullying policies not enforced and highlight how this affects your child’s wellbeing.

Step 3: Understanding Bullying as a Safeguarding Issue

Bullying can be a form of child abuse, and schools have a legal responsibility to protect your child from harm.

Unresolved bullying can result in psychosomatic illnesses, anxiety, and long-term absences. If the school fails to act, you have every right to ensure your child’s safety by taking further steps.

Use terms such as parents’ rights in school bullying cases or legal action against schools ignoring bullying complaints when documenting your concerns.

Step 4: Calling the Police if Necessary

In extreme cases where you feel your child’s life is in danger or the bullying has escalated to physical harm, the school does have the right to contact the police. If the school fails to take the necessary steps to protect your child, you shouldn’t hesitate to call the police yourself.

It’s essential to frame this action under phrases like “protecting children from bullying” to keep the focus on their safety.

Step 5: Contacting the Secretary of State for Education

If none of the above steps lead to a resolution, parents have the right to contact the Secretary of State for Education. This may feel like a last resort, but your child’s wellbeing is worth pursuing every avenue.

Schools are legally obligated to provide a safe environment for all students. If they fail to do so, they must be held accountable. When drafting your correspondence, include specifics about the school’s failure to act and highlight your concerns about “schools failing to address bullying effectively.”

Can You Remove Your Child from School?

Parents often ask whether they can take their child out of school if bullying persists. The answer depends on the local school authority and the situation’s severity. If the bullying remains unresolved, it can lead to options like homeschooling.

However, before removing your child, consider alternative resolutions, as changing schools or education approaches can also be stressful. No child should feel so frightened that they cannot attend school. How to handle school bullying without school support may be a helpful phrase to research additional resources.

Final Thoughts: Your Rights as a Parent

The key is to act swiftly and persistently. As parents, it’s our responsibility to protect our children from bullies and advocate for a safe, supportive learning environment.

Bullying is not just “part of growing up” – it’s a serious issue that demands immediate attention. Keep pushing for the right action to be taken because your child deserves to feel safe, valued, and empowered to thrive at school.

 

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Who Is Karen Baughan?

Karen Baughan is an NLP Master Practitioner based in Bromsgrove, UK. Having used NLP to affect her own personal transformation, she now helps clients, from around the world, to transform their lives and achieve their dreams.