Anti Bullying Policy
Reviewed January 2019
As part of our school aims we intend to:
Promote the development of each child - academically, physically, morally, spiritually, culturally and aesthetically.
Create a safe, secure, happy and caring environment in which the child can develop a sense of belonging and a sense of pride.
School Aims
Pupils, teachers, other staff and visitors have a right to feel safe in our school, and therefore bullying actions are not acceptable at school, either by pupils or staff.
Procedure
It is your right to report bullying, whether this happens to you or to someone else.
Pupils have the right to a safe and caring environment, which promotes learning, personal growth and positive self-esteem. Our school is committed to providing this and each student, teacher and parent is responsible for ensuring that this occurs. This policy has been endorsed by Governors, Teaching Staff, Parents and the Pupils.
Definition
Bullying is when someone uses his or her power to hurt or scare someone who is unable to defend themselves. It can be done by an individual or a group. It can be carried out physically, emotionally or verbally. By definition bullying is behaviour that intentionally and persistently causes distress to others.
Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF) defines bullying as:
“The repeated use of power by one or more people intentionally to harm, hurt or adversely affect the rights and needs of another or others” NIABF (2005)
Bullying can take many forms:
Physical bullying: includes fighting, pushing, shoving, pinching, aggressive play fights and invasion of personal space.
Verbal bullying: includes name calling, offensive language, putting people down both to their face and behind their backs, intimidating noises and teasing people because of their race, gender, religious creed and appearance.
Visual bullying: includes offensive notes or material, graffiti, gestures and damaging other people’s property.
Extortion bullying: includes stand-over tactics, picking on others and threats to “get” people.
Exclusion bullying: ranges from treating the victim as if they don’t exist to spreading rumours.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The ability to reduce bullying behaviours is the responsibility of all in the school community.
It is important that there is a collaborative whole school approach to address any difficulties which may be encountered. Everyone should work together to create a safe and happy environment.
Staff should:
- Provide a safe, secure and caring environment.
- Promote and sustain good behaviour.
- Listen to all reports of bullying.
- Address each situation in line with procedures.
- Work collaboratively with all relevant members of the school community, developing positive partnerships with parents.
- Review the Policy regularly
Pupils should:
- Report all incidents of bullying (if a child is being bullied or is another pupil is being bullied – TELL SOMEONE)
- Follow the agreed class rules and school’s code of conduct.
- Avoid inappropriate behaviour which might be considered as bullying.
- Be respectful and supportive to others.
Parents should:
- Work in partnership with the school.
- Advise their children to report any concerns to a member of staff.
- Discourage behaviours which might be considered as bullying.
- Stress to their children that retaliation is not helpful.
- Contact the School Secretary to arrange an appointment with the principal to discuss concerns.
- Co-operating with the school, if their child/children are accused of bullying, try to ascertain the truth and point out the implications of bullying, both for the children who are bullied and for the bullies themselves.
- Accept their role in dealing with bullying behaviours which occur outside the school so that they do not interfere with effective learning and teaching during the school day.
In Classroom and throughout the school day, staff will:
- Promote School Ethos at all times (as regards Bullying – be a TELLING/LISTENING/RESPONDING school).
- Use PDMU lessons/Circle time
- Awareness of Rights and Responsibilities
- Recognise and reward good behaviour
- Use creative learning to enhance social and emotional skills
- Ensure that all staff (teaching and non-teaching), parents and pupils and all members of the school community are aware of the school code of conduct as set out in the Positive Behaviour Policy
- Present school assemblies – addressing Bullying and providing Ant-Bullying Strategies
- Vigilant supervision – playground/general school environment
- Involve and consult with School Council
- Promote good parental communication
- Raise awareness eg P1 Parent Induction meetings, class information meetings, School Policies Booklet issued, newsletters, website
- Create awareness of national Anti-Bullying Week (in November each year)
- Use outside agencies – NSPCC, Childline, PSNI, Behaviour Support Team
Strategic Procedures for Pupils.
- Children in school will be encouraged not to suffer in silence but to tell others.
- There is nothing wrong with asking for help.
- Don’t hit bullies - you could be accused of bullying.
- Always be truthful, don’t exaggerate. If anything you say is untrue then people will doubt your whole story.
- Bullying is always wrong. Adults can bully children too. If an adult is upsetting you or trying to make you do things you do not like, talk it over with a teacher or someone you trust.
- Do not approve of bullying. Bullies receive encouragement from reaction of onlookers. Pupils should:
- object to any bullying behaviour
- support younger children who are being bullied
- talk openly about bullying
If bullying occurs the following procedure should be followed
Talk to your class teacher, any other member of staff, the Designated Teachers,
Senior Teacher Mrs Richmond or Principal.
All staff in school have a responsibility to address bullying when it becomes evident. All staff in school will follow these principles:
- Pupils have a right to learn in a safe and supportive environment, free from intimidation and fear.
- The welfare/well-being of all children and young people are paramount and pupils’ needs (whether bully or targeted pupil) need to be separated from their behaviour.
- When bullying concerns are identified our school will work in a restorative and solution focused way to achieve the necessary change.
- Pupils who are targeted will be listened to and supported.
- Pupils who engage in bullying behaviour will be listened to and encouraged to accept responsibility and change their behaviour.
- Staff will receive awareness-raising training regarding bullying prevention including effective, appropriate strategies for intervention.
- Where a concern arises, staff will receive ongoing support from Senior Managers with Pastoral responsibility.
- Parents will be made aware of our school’s practice to prevent and to respond to concerns through parent information meetings, consultation processes and where necessary, their active participation in partnership with the school to resolve concerns involving their child.
What Pupils Can Do To Help Themselves and Others
- Remain in sight of adults if you have been bullied
- Walk tall with your head held high
- If confronted, stay calm and confidently walk away. Don’t give bullies the reaction they want
- Leave expensive possessions and money at home
- Tell someone who can help. This includes incidents which involve someone else as the victim, not just yourself
- Don’t be fooled by the bully’s threats.
- Avoid joining in. Being part of a group, which is bullying someone else, is just as bad as bullying yourself
Strategic Approaches to Reduce Bullying Behaviour
- Encourage pupils to use break times productively. (e.g. playground facilities, garden club, chess club, access to the library at lunch time) To be meaningfully occupied at all times and not be a nuisance to others
- Provide a supportive environment, which encourages positive relationships between pupils, their peers and teachers
- Implement the Discipline Policy and Anti Bullying Policy in a consistent and fair manner
- Ensure all areas of the school are well supervised by staff
- Respond to all reports of bullying by pupils/parents in a fair and consistent manner
- Model appropriate behaviour on a consistent basis in class and assembly
- Monitor bullying incidents and inform parents
Strategic Procedures for Staff when Bullying Occurs.
- If bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be dealt with immediately by the member of staff who has been approached.
- Attempts will be made to resolve the situation quickly.
- Reports will be taken seriously.
- Steps will be taken to ensure the child feels safe and secure.
- Significant incidents will involve further investigation and recording. A clear account reported to the appropriate members of staff i.e. class teacher / head of Key Stage / Principal / Designated Teacher for Child Protection.
- Significant or repeated incidents will require parents to be informed.
- Disciplinary measures / sanctions, which are proportionate and clearly set out in the Positive Behaviour Policy, will be explained and used.
- Formulation (involving all stakeholders) and communication of school wide rules concerning Positive Behaviour expectations (eg classroom rules, posters, displays, incentives, pupil awards, school assemblies, workshops)
- School Curriculum which addresses prejudice, discrimination and Social/Emotional Learning (PDMU)
- School wide supervision and effective, consistent behaviour management by all staff
- Opportunities for developing Positive Peer Relationships (Circle time strategies and training provided re. Peer Support/Playground Friends schemes and Class/School Council)
In Kells and Connor Primary School if any type of bullying is highlighted, the following strategies will be implemented by staff in two stages;
STAGE 1
All staff will:
- Listen to concerns when reported.
- Identify those involved in the bullying incident.
- Give each pupil the opportunity to talk. The discussion will focus on finding a solution and stopping the bullying from recurring.
- Staff will remain neutral and avoid direct, closed questions.
- The pupils are helped to find their own solution to their personal disagreement and discuss how their proposals will be put into action.
- Other appropriate members of staff will be informed i.e. class teacher, non-teaching staff, head of Key Stage, Vice-Principal, Principal. Incidents will be recorded as appropriate.
- A follow-up meeting/discussion is useful to find out whether the solution has been effective or not.
STAGE 2
If the problem is not resolved staff will:
- Implement procedures within the Positive Behaviour Policy.
- Continue to monitor the situation and follow procedures as agreed.
- Contact parents if necessary at any stage of the procedures, depending on the seriousness of the bullying e.g. phone call, letter or request for interview by class teacher / Head of Key Stage / Principal.
- Contact outside network of support at any stage of the procedures e.g. Education Welfare Officer, Behaviour Support Team, PSNI
TEACHING ABOUT BULLYING
This will be delivered and reinforced through various areas of the curriculum:
In Foundation and Key Stage 1 classes (P1-P4) children will be taught to be aware of different forms of bullying and how to develop personal strategies to resist unwanted behaviour.
This message will be reinforced in Key Stage 2 classes (P5-P7) when children will be encouraged to recognise, discuss and understand the nature of bullying and the harm that can result from it.
RESOURCES FOR THE PREVENTION OF BULLYING
We encourage a ‘whole-school approach’ in which children and adults work together to create an environment where everybody gets a clear message that bullying is wrong and will not be tolerated, that bullying behaviour of all kinds must be challenged.
- All school staff, teaching and non-teaching, will be familiar with the Anti-Bullying Policy and procedures for dealing with reports of bullying.
- Awareness raising posters are displayed in classrooms and corridors.
- Appropriate leaflets and literature will be provided for the children.
- Children will be encouraged to understand their roles in preventing bullying using, for example, drama; role-play and novels. Children will be guided to understand the feelings of bullied children and to practise the skills they need to avoid bullying.
- Peer support is offered from P6/7 children trained as ‘Buddies’.
- Parents will be issued with a copy of the school’s Anti-Bullying policy every two years. They will be aware of procedures to use if they are concerned that their child is being bullied or does not feel safe to learn.
LINKS WITH OTHER POLICIES
Kells and Connor Primary School’s Anti-Bullying Policy is set in the context of our Pastoral Care Programme
and reflects our School Aims. It links with other policies such as:
Safeguarding & Child Protection Pastoral Care Positive Behaviour
Special Educational Needs Health & Safety Curricular Policies
RACE EQUALITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
All children have equal access to the curriculum regardless of their race, gender, disability or ability. Teachers plan work that is differentiated so that all groups and individuals can achieve their potential and are committed to creating a positive climate that will enable everyone to work free from racial intimidation and harassment.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
This policy was formulated by Principal and Teaching Staff in consultation with school Governors, pupils and parents. It has been approved by the Board of Governors and it is the intention of the staff to review and update it regularly.
It is important to remember that staff, pupils and parents all have an active part to play and have a responsibility to ensure effective implementation and maintenance of this policy.