NCB Now: Report on bullying of children with SEN

An evidence review from the Anti-Bullying Alliance and the University of Cambridge has confirmed children with special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities are disproportionately at risk of being bullied.

Researchers studied the literature on the bullying of children with SEN and/or disabilities as part of a larger project to discover what works in tackling the bullying of these children in schools.

Some groups of children are shown as having experienced significant levels of bullying including, 83 per cent of children with learning difficulties, 82 per cent of children who are disfluent (those with a stammer), 59 per cent of them at least once a week, and 91 per cent for name calling.

The report says adults generally underestimate the amount of bullying these children experience, and that the practicalities of implementing intervention strategies challenges schools. Recommendations include schools focusing more on the social context of bullying; direct work on communication skills and new approaches to dealing with difference.

For more information, visit www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk.

Article from: Children & Young People Now (11 January 2011)