spotting the signs of bullying

The behaviour of a child may indicate if they are being bullied. If a pupil displays any of the signs listed below bullying could possibly be responsible, and it would be worth discussing the subject of bullying with the pupil.

Children may:

• be scared of walking to and from school
• change their usual route to school
• beg you to drive them to school
• not want to go to school
• feel ill when its time for school
• begin truanting
• begin to let their school work slide
• come home with damaged clothes and books
• come home hungry(bully taking dinner money)
• become withdrawn, shy and lack confidence
• become distressed and anxious even stop eating
• attempt or threaten suicide
• have regular nightmares
• have their possessions go missing
• ask for money or begin to steal money
• continually lose money
• refuse to discuss what's wrong
• have unexplained bruises, cuts, scratches
• bully younger brothers and sisters
• become aggressive and unreasonable