An ambulance worker is keeping her 11-year-old nephew off school after claiming he was repeatedly bullied.

Kyle Greenall, who lives with his aunt Tracey McNamara, has learning difficulties. He suffered swelling and abrasions to his head in the latest attack as he walked home from Rhodesway School in Allerton, Bradford. Now Tracey McNamara, 34, who has full rights to care for the youngster, says she will not allow him to go back to the school.

She said: "He is scared. There is no way he is going back. He is not safe there."

Tracey, an emergency medical ambulance technician, says Kyle should be in a special school because of his learning difficulties and behavioural problems. But instead he was sent to Rhodesway at the start of the school year.

"The bullying began within a week of him starting at the school," she said. "It was verbal taunts at first. They were calling him names and swearing at him.

"Then it went on to punches and kicks. He was coming home with bruises on his shins and body where he had been kicked. Last Monday he came home with an abrasion to his stomach after he was pulled across the playground and kicked by two boys.

"Then on Friday he was walking home from school with another boy when a boy came up and started punching him, causing his injuries. Kyle tried to run away but was attacked by a group of boys.

"They were all older boys wearing the Rhodesway School uniform but Kyle doesn't know any of them. He said there were too many of them to count."

Mrs McNamara has reported the assault to the police, who are investigating.

She claimed she had to wait a month for the school to provide her with a copy of its bullying policy and had been telling them about the injuries Kyle was suffering for two or three weeks before the latest assault.

Mrs McNamara, of Squire Green, Four Lane Ends, said she had taken her own two sons out of the school two years ago after one of them was subjected to racist attacks by bullies.

She said: "I had a meeting with the deputy head and a teacher on Friday after I told them I was going to the police. They said they were dealing with it and letters were being sent home.

"They said they will have an assembly this week about bullying but it's too late. Kyle is not going back. The school is not protecting him."

Headteacher at Rhodesway, Ian Cox, said the school had a bullying policy. He said: "We share the concern of Mrs McNamara. There are problems and we are following them through with her.

"She was in school last Friday for a meeting with one of my senior colleagues, the assistant head teacher, so clearly we are taking it seriously. Where we are aware of incidents of bullying we follow them up and deal with them as quickly and effectively as we can."

Education Bradford said: "We are working with Kyle's family, the school, and others who care for him, to assess his needs and decide whether or not he should be statemented, following a request from his auntie."

West Yorkshire Police said: "We are investigating an allegation of assault on an 11-year-old boy and inquiries are ongoing into it. It must have been very distressing for the victim and we would like anyone who witnessed the assault or knows who is responsible to contact us on (01274) 376259."