What do I do if my child is being bullied for being autistic?

The legal frame

Bullying because of a child's disability is disability-related harassment under the Equality Act 2010, not just unkindness between children. Schools have a duty to prevent harassment of disabled pupils and to investigate and act when it happens. Framing the situation in this language in your first communication with the school changes how it's handled.

The DfE statutory guidance on preventing and tackling bullying says every school must have an anti-bullying policy and must take action. The Equality and Human Rights Commission's technical guidance for schools sets out the specific duties around disabled pupils.

The first letter

Put the report in writing. Email is fine; keep the timestamp. The letter should contain:

• Your child's name and year group.
• A factual description of incidents: dates, what was said or done, who was involved, who saw it. Specifics matter more than adjectives.
• A statement that you consider this disability-related harassment, and a reference to the school's duties under the Equality Act 2010.
• The school's own anti-bullying policy by name (you can usually download it from the school website).
• A specific ask: that the school investigate, take action to stop the bullying, and respond in writing with what they've done and when.

What the school should do

1. Acknowledge the report within a few working days.
2. Investigate the incidents (talk to your child, the children involved, witnesses).
3. Put immediate measures in place to stop the bullying (separating children, supervised transitions, lunch- time arrangements).
4. Apply their behaviour policy consistently to the children doing the bullying.
5. Put longer-term measures in place: SEND pupil support, peer-awareness work, monitoring.
6. Respond to you in writing with what they've done and what they'll do next.

For children with an EHCP, the SEN Information Report and the EHCP itself may already specify anti-bullying provision; check what's in writing.

If the school doesn't act, escalate

1. Headteacher: if your initial report was to a teacher or year head and nothing changed.
2. Governing body: the school's complaints procedure (usually 3 stages) starts here for academies and maintained schools. The chair of governors is the right contact at the governing-body stage.
3. The Department for Education for academies and free schools; the local authority for maintained schools. Both will look at whether the school has followed its own policies and statutory duties.
4. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (for council-related failures) or Ofsted (where there's a wider safeguarding pattern).
5. A disability discrimination claim to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) for serious or sustained failures to prevent harassment. The Tribunal can order remedies including a written apology and changes to school practice. There's a 6-month time limit from the discriminatory acts.

What helps your child while this is happening

• Listen to them. Don't question whether the bullying is “really” bullying; the impact is what matters, and autistic children typically under-report rather than over-report this.
• Acknowledge their feelings explicitly. Many autistic children also blame themselves; they need to hear clearly that the bullying isn't their fault.
• Reduce school-side demand temporarily where you can. A child being bullied at school doesn't need extra pressure at home.
• If your child is in mental-health crisis, contact your GP for a CAMHS referral. YoungMinds Parents Helpline (0808 802 5544) is also a useful sounding board.

This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.