Disabled children's bullying ordeal

NSPCC and Bradford Safeguarding Children Board are joining forces to raise awareness of the bullying that disabled children and young people can experience.

Research shows disabled children are more likely than their peers to be bullied.

The campaign will be launched at the Midland Hotel, Bradford, with a conference for 120 professionals. It comes after recent research carried out for Bradford Council showed being bullied was one of the issues young people worried about most with 53 per cent of children surveyed claiming they had been bullied in school – almost seven per cent higher than the national average.

But Bradford is similar to comparable local authorities and the country as a whole in terms of how good children feel their school deals with the issue.

Independent chairman of Bradford Safeguarding Children Board Nick Frost will open the conference. "Disabled young people who have been bullied may be more vulnerable to abuse, and it's important that professionals are equipped to tackle this type of bullying.

"This campaign is a great example of the statutory and voluntary sectors coming together to make Bradford a safer place for children."

The conference will also hear about latest research into the characteristics of bullying victims from the National Centre for Social Research, as well as giving young people, parents, carers and teachers the chance to share their experiences.

The findings include concerns from a Bradford parent who said their child was highly vulnerable to bullying and exploitation by his peers, and has even become a target for strangers in the street.

The research showed bullying decreased with age, with 47 per cent of young people reporting being bullied at age 14 – a figure which decreased to 29 per cent by age 16. Vulnerable pupils and girls were more likely to be bullied with the main risk factors for being bullied at ages 14-16 including having a special educational need, having a caring responsibility, being disabled or having spent a period of time in social services care. Name calling and cyber-bullying was most common.

NSPCC local campaigns co-ordinator Helen Westerman said: "It's so important that people realise that disabled children are also subject to bullying and that we help people to feel confident to challenge this.

"We also know that the best form of self-defence against bullying is good self-esteem, and we want all children in Bradford to know that all bullying is unacceptable."

CASE STUDY: FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE

Sam Jepson's son Henry was just four years old when he fell prey to bullies.

What began with two children removing his glasses eventually escalated into the youngster, who is partially sighted and has speech and language delay and learning difficulties, being bitten on the arms and leg.

His mother says, however, something positive came out of the experience and she will be sharing her story at the Bradford conference.

Mrs Jepson, of West Yorkshire, who informed the school after the first incident, remained in constant contact with them.

After gaining a statement of special education needs, Henry was given a learning support assistant and used special cards to convey how he was feeling.

"While it was a very negative situation the school was very professional about it. Ultimately we have enhanced Henry's educational life by getting the statement," said Mrs Jepson.

Henry is now six and enjoying school.