https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/wards-and-departments/departments/clinical-specialties/department-child-and-adolescent-mental-health-dcamh/the-tic-service/tourette-syndrome-and-bullying-at-school/

Tourette Syndrome and bullying at school

Bullying can cause challenges for any child, and those with Tourette Syndrome (TS) may be particularly vulnerable due to other children perceiving them to be different. Addressing bullying is important to prevent issues such as school avoidance and low self-esteem. While recognising that children with TS may not be the only ones with additional needs in school, we have included achievable suggestions on this page for fostering a positive and inclusive environment.

What is bullying?

Any type of unwanted repetitive attention that causes upset can be classified as bullying. Bullying can be mental, physical, or verbal. Mental bullying can be as simple as a child being isolated from a previously friendly group. Physical bullying can include getting pushed in the lunch queue or tripped up on the bus. Verbal abuse can include name-calling or sending threatening text messages.

Bullying does not always happen in the classroom. Bullies will find places or times when adults are not around, for example, journeys to and from school or at break times.

What should we do?

Supporting students who may be bullied is a key responsibility for educators. Below are some strategies you can use to help. Remember that each bullying situation is unique, and you might need to use a combination of these strategies. The goal is to create an environment where all students feel safe, valued, and supported. Your own school will also have a bullying policy which will be important to follow.

  • Make sure that the school’s anti-bullying policy is kept up to date and that all staff have read it and understand what to do if they discover bullying. All bullying incidents should be investigated thoroughly.
  • Check if the school’s anti-bullying policy includes any information about children with special needs. Helping classmates understand a student’s needs is a good start.
  • Talk to a student with TS (and possibly other co-occurring conditions) and their parents to make sure they are okay with teaching the class about their tics. Some parents might worry that this could bring unwanted attention, but this is rarely the case. In fact, research shows that students feel more confident and accepted after they have told their peers about having Tourette Syndrome (TS).
  • Ensure that all staff who interact with the student understand TS and the possible effects it could have on their schooling. For more information on various aspects of TS at school, see our other information pages.
  • Help students develop coping strategies. This can include role-playing sessions on how to handle unwanted attention or explain their tics. Some children prepare a sentence to answer possible questions people may ask them about tics or other behaviours.
  • Be aware of any changes in your student's behaviour. A normally talkative student becoming withdrawn could be a sign that something is wrong. Sudden, unexpected absences or illnesses might indicate they are avoiding school.
  • Investigate whether further support is available. This could be through a classroom assistant or a peer-mentoring scheme. Talk to the student's medical team if the parents/students are okay with it.
  • Teach students that retaliation can make the situation worse. It is much better to walk away. By retaliating, they risk getting hurt or hurting others. It is better to give students the confidence to deal with bullying and report any worries right away.
  • Use some of PSHE classes to explore bullying, how it feels, and why people do it. Circle Time for younger children is a good way to share experiences.
  • Set up a system so that all students have someone they trust to talk to and report any worries. This could be a buddy system with older students mentoring younger ones.
  • Use helpful resources from organisations like Kidscape, a bullying prevention charity that provides practical support, training, and advice to challenge bullying and protect young lives.