Anti-Bullying Policy
ENGAINES PRIMARY SCHOOL ANTI-BULLYING POLICY
Statement of Intent
We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a TELLING school. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff.
Statutory duty of schools
Head teachers have a legal duty under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to draw up procedures to prevent bullying among pupils and to bring these procedures to the attention of staff, parents and pupils.
Policy Aims
The aim of this anti-bullying policy is to ensure that pupils learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. Bullying is anti-social behaviour and affects everyone; it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Only when all issues of bullying are addressed will pupils be able to fully benefit from the opportunities available at schools.
Objectives of this Policy
• All governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
• All governors and teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
• All pupils and parents should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
• As a school we take bullying seriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.
• Bullying will not be tolerated.
What Is Bullying?
Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves. The main types of bullying are:
• Emotional being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting, spreading rumours (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures)
• Physical pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
• Racist racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
• Sexual unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
• Homophobic because of, or focussing on the issue of sexuality
• Verbal name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
• Cyber All areas of internet, such as email & internet chat room misuse
Mobile threats by text messaging & calls
• Misuse of associated technology, i.e. camera &video facilities
Why is it Important to Respond to Bullying?
Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.
Schools have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.
Signs and Symptoms
A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:
• is frightened of walking to or from school
• doesn’t want to go on the school / public bus
• begs to be driven to school
• changes their usual routine
• is unwilling to go to school (school phobic)
• begins to truant
• becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence
• starts stammering
• attempts or threatens suicide or runs away
• cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
• feels ill in the morning
• begins to do poorly in school work
• comes home with clothes torn or books damaged
• has possessions which are damaged or ” go missing”
• asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
• has dinner or other monies continually “lost”
• has unexplained cuts or bruises
• comes home starving (money / lunch has been stolen)
• becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
• is bullying other children or siblings
• stops eating
• is frightened to say what’s wrong
• gives improbable excuses for any of the above
• is afraid to use the internet or mobile phone
• is nervous & jumpy when a cyber message is received
These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated
What We Will Do
• We will listen to all children and encourage them to talk to us.
• We will observe behaviour closely, throughout the school day and act on any incident reported. Those involved will be: teachers, teaching assistants, M.D.A’s, parents, governors, classroom helpers and the children.
• We will develop an ethos within the school of mutual respect and co-operation offering access to staff and the resolution of problems through discussion and support.
• All complaints will be investigated.
• Training will be provided for teachers/teaching assistants and M.D.A.’s in helping them to identify bullying and ways in which to resolve conflicts.
Procedures
At the earliest stage all staff will be notified of any child/children who will need close observation and they will be expected to intervene to help avoid bullying situations and prevent them happening.
1. Report bullying incidents to staff and Head teacher
2. The children involved will be spoken to and the seriousness of this type of behaviour will be discussed
3. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff
4. In serious cases/repeat incidences parents should be informed and will be asked to come in for a meeting to discuss the problem. At this meeting the consequences of continued bullying will be pointed out i.e: loss of playtime/dinner time, exclusion from extra curricular activities, fixed term exclusion and finally permanent exclusion. (This would be in extreme cases and only used after much discussion and opportunity for improvement in behaviour).
5. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted
6. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly
7. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour
How we will help pupils
Pupils who have been bullied will be supported by:
• offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with a member of staff of their choice
• reassuring the pupil
• offering continuous support
• restoring self-esteem and confidence.
Pupils who have bullied will be helped by:
• discussing what happened
• discovering why the pupil became involved
• establishing the wrong doing and need to change
• informing parents or guardians to help change the attitude of the pupil.
Outcomes
1. The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise. Other consequences may take place.
2. In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered
3. If possible, the pupils will be reconciled
4. After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.
Prevention
We will use KIDSCAPE methods for helping children to prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include:
• writing a set of school rules
• signing a behaviour contract
• writing stories or poems or drawing pictures about bullying
• reading stories about bullying or having them read to a class or assembly
• making up role-plays activities to allow children to express themselves and use their own experiences.
• having discussions about bullying and why it matters
• Children will be taught to be assertive to resolve conflict creatively and constructively through Circle Time and to have confidence in authority.
• Parents will be encouraged to come to school and discuss any concerns or suspicions they may have.
• Children will be praised publicly for acts of kindness, co-operation, caring, sharing and friendliness as well as for good work. They will be awarded team points, stickers and special certificates. All staff will be involved in this process of rewarding positive behaviour as well as identifying anti-social behaviour.
Monitoring
This will enable us to follow up and record progress. Individual incident reports will be kept. This will help us to identify whether or not the policy is effective.
Outcomes of this policy
By ensuring all staff, governors, parents and children are aware of this policy we aim to ensure that:
• All staff will be vigilant and responsive
• Children will recognise that the school is trying to reduce and prevent bullying behaviour
• Children will work co-operatively and respect one another.
• Incidences of bullying behaviour will be reduced.
• All children and parents are aware of the consequences of any bullying incidences.
Safeguarding
This policy should be read in conjunction with the schools safeguarding policy
Review
The Head teacher and staff will review this Policy annually. Any suggested amendments will be presented to the Governors for discussion and approval.
Help Organisations:
Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) 0808 800 5793
Children’s Legal Centre 0845 345 4345
KIDSCAPE Parents Helpline (Mon-Fri, 10-4) 0845 1 205 204
Parent line Plus 0808 800 2222
Youth Access 020 8772 9900
Bullying Online www.bullying.co.uk
Visit the Kidscape website www.kidscape.org.uk for further support, links and advice.
