The following extract is taken from the authority's Anti-Bullying guidance document Roar Like a Lion and it contains a number of indicators that parents should watch out for as warning signs that your child might be the victim of bullying.
APPENDIX 4 :
IS A CHILD BEING BULLIED?
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A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults
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should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:
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Is frightened of walking to or from school
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Does’t want to go on the school/public bus
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Begs to be driven to school
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Changes their usual routine
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Is unwilling to go to school (school phobic)
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Begins truanting
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Becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence
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Starts stammering
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Attempts or threatens suicide or runs away
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Cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
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Feels ill in the morning
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Begins to do poorly in school work
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Comes home with clothes torn or books damaged
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Has possessions go “missing”
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Asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
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Has dinner or other monies continually “lost”
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Has unexplained cuts or bruises
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Comes home starving (money/lunch has been stolen)
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Becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
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Is bullying other children or siblings
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Stops eating
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Is frightened to say what’s wrong
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Gives improbable excuses for any of the above
These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be
considered as a possibility and should be investigated.
