Jan
22
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A new DVD resource aimed at tackling the bullying of children with SEN or disabilities has been made available to all schools.
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The resource has been welcomed by bullying charities, who have emphasised the disproportionate numbers of young people with SEN and disabilities who become the victims of bullying.
Beatbullying said this week that nine per cent of young people it worked with and supported had SEN, while research by the National Autistic Society (NAS) shows that over 40 per cent of young people with autism had been bullied at school.
The DVD is being launched by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
The short film chronicles the effects of bullying on a disabled young man and features a supportive message from Arsenal football player, Cesc FÃ bregas.
Schools minister, Vernon Coaker, announced the launch of the DVD, entitled Make Them Go Away, at a school in London last Thursday (September 17).
He said: “Taunting and demonising a young person because of their disability is particularly nasty. That’s why we have produced the DVD to raise awareness of the problem with young people and prevent bullying occurring in the first place.â€
Emma Jane Cross, chief executive of Beatbullying, told SecEd: “We welcome any bullying prevention schemes, which promise to engage children with the topic of bullying and help them understand its devastating impact. But, as ever, more must be done.â€
Mark Lever, chief executive of the NAS, said: “It is vital that teaching staff are given the right training and resources to help them understand autism and recognise when a child with this serious, lifelong and disabling condition is being bullied, and to deal with it effectively.â€
The DVD resource pack will be available for all secondary schools in hard copy and online. This will be advertised to schools through an email from the DCSF.
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