Bullying is an important issue in schools and one to which looked after children may be particularly susceptible. In a cross-sectional survey, a sample of 50 ten to 16-year-old children in the care of one local authority were asked about their experience of bullying using a modified Olweus questionnaire. The results, reviewed by Vidya Rao and Doug Simkiss, suggest that these looked after children were at least as likely as their peers to be bullied and were subject to the same types of bullying as other children. The characteristics of both bullies and victims are discussed and recent work to improve the recognition of bullying and identify effective strategies to prevent it is highlighted. Health assessments are an opportunity to consider bullying as a possible underlying cause of stress and behavioural problems.
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