Cyber-bullying fears for SEN students

Many young people with SEN or disabilities have not been taught how to stay safe online and have experienced cyber-bullying, it has been revealed.

The research findings come alongside new guidance that has been published this week by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) to help schools tackle the problem more effectively.

The ABA study, which involved qualitative focus groups with students with disabilities, learning difficulties, mental health issues, and emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, also discovered that many of the young people are using the internet to create an “anonymous persona to mask their disability”. Others were actively avoiding going online.

Many participants reported a lack of education on issues such as cyber-bullying or internet safety, which hampered their ability to deal with difficult situations online. The researchers said that this even extended to some young people struggling to understand when bullying behaviour was occurring.