POLICE are today investigating a playground incident where an eight-year-old boy was hit in the face with a plastic cricket bat.Brandon, whose surname has been withheld to protect his identity, of Handford Hall Primary School, received bruises to his face and arm after he was struck by another child.

POLICE are today investigating a playground incident where an eight-year-old boy was hit in the face with a plastic cricket bat.

Brandon, whose surname has been withheld to protect his identity, of Handford Hall Primary School, received bruises to his face and arm after he was struck by another child.

His mother Claire said the incident, which took place at lunchtime on July 8, was unacceptable and has called for bullying to be tackled more stringently.

She refuses to allow her son back there and has arranged for him to be relocated at a different school for next year.

She said: "He is never going back there because this isn't a one-off incident. The school has got to be aware of this.

"The pupils should be punished and taken out of school for one week so the parents will realise they are bullies."

Claire's partner, who did not wish to be named, added: "I went straight down there and picked him up. I couldn't understand why the school hadn't phoned the parents of the other kid to take him out of there. I'm very angry and upset."

Headteacher Jon Trotter said: "They were out playing with the play equipment and apparently Brandon was kicking the football away; I think the boy reacted.

"If it had been a boy who I had seen before doing this he would have been excluded. As a result, he has been banned from using the play equipment - he realised he was wrong.

"All bullying incidents, not matter how small, are taken seriously and are always dealt with firmly and in a measured way. We take time within class and assemblies to encourage positive action and give support to the bullied when this occurs."

He added that the school had received a very good Ofsted report, which said there was a safe and secure environment for all pupils.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council said: "We are aware of this case and have discussed the issue with the family - providing advice aimed at resolving the situation as quickly as possible.

"Bullying incidents are very upsetting for everyone, especially where schools have a whole range of established successful preventative strategies in place.

"Suffolk County Council works closely with all schools on this issue, and runs anti-bullying training for staff and parents."

A police spokesman said: "Police can confirm they have received reports that an eight-year-old boy was assaulted by a fellow pupil at a school in Ipswich.

"The incident occurred at noon on Thursday July 8. Police are investigating the incident."

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