Policy on minimising bullying

Rationale

We recognise that bullying does exist in schools.  This can only be dealt with effectively if pupils, parents and teachers work together to provide a safe and caring environment where all pupils feel secure and are able to fulfil their potential.  We promote a community where respect and concern for others is of the highest priority.

Aims

1.To develop awareness that bullying is unacceptable.

2.To develop a shared view of bullying.

3.To foster a supportive environment which stresses equality of opportunity and mutual respect.

4.To work in partnership with parents to minimise bullying.

5.To encourage a climate of openness and a listening culture.

6.To develop a range of strategies to deal with bullying.

7.To engender a sense of shared responsibility among pupils.

Identifying Bullying

Bullying is a persistent, intentional, conscious abuse of power to hurt, threaten or frighten someone else.  It is not always purely physical.  It can take many forms:-  social, verbal, material and mental.  

All forms are unacceptable and serious for the individual involved.

Bullying can manifest itself in any of the following ways:-

tripping
name calling
ignoring
pushing
kicking
hitting
The class teacher should involve the silent majority by making pupils aware that there are no innocent bystanders.


The role of the parents

Parents should support their children by:-

being interested in their child's school experience
providing positive role models
encouraging self-confidence and assertiveness
being aware of the school policy on bullying
discouraging hitting back
recognising signs of difficulties
believing them
reporting repeated or serious incidents to the school
allowing the school sufficient time to deal with the matter – bullying can be complex and difficult to solve
co-operating with the effort of the school in dealing with the problem
Strategies for children

When bullying is being discussed, advice should be given to children about how to react to and deal with bullies and bullying.

They should be aware that they should not:-

• blame themselves
• think like a victim
• put themselves at risk
• show they are upset

They should try to:-

• stay calm
• look confident
• stay with friends
• pretend they don't care
• tell someone: friend, janitor, teacher, parent
• avoid worrying
• keep in control
• No hitting policy

In the school's efforts to minimise incidents of bullying, it must be stated that any form of physical retaliation is unacceptable.The drawbacks of hitting back are:-

• It can lead to escalation of the situation
• It can cause injury
• It can make it more difficult to establish who is at fault
• It encourages violence
• It undermines all efforts to develop self-control
• The only acceptable approach is to encourage children to defend themselves by using the strategies already outlined.

The role of the teacher

To support children in order to both prevent and deal with bullying by:-

• discussing bullying and its effects on a regular basis (the first week of each term)
• taking steps to avoid allowing or encouraging bullying in their own interaction with pupils
• fostering an atmosphere conducive to pupils confiding their problems
• providing positive role models
• being aware of and defusing potential situations before they escalate
• encouraging pupils to report bullying
• taking reports of bullying seriously
• being aware of the criteria for bullying
• taking action where necessary
• monitoring and recording incidences of bullying
• reporting serious or persistent problems to management

The role of the support staff

• observe and monitor the children's behaviour while outside the classroom
• intervene to defuse incidents
• report incidents which give rise to concern
• provide a channel of communication through which bullying could be reported 
• support the children
• report any incidents of bullying to appropriate teaching staff

The role of the management

To work with staff to create a caring and supportive ethos throughout the school by:-

• fostering a whole school approach to bullying
• promoting the partnership between parents and school
• supporting class teachers in their efforts to deal with bullying
• ensuring that both victim and bully are counselled and supported
• applying sanctions where deemed necessary
• Procedures for dealing with bullying

1. Give children strategies to report bullying without fear of recrimination.

2. Record incidents of bullying which have been established.

3. Support the victim and counsel the bully.

4. Report incidents of a more serious or persistent nature to D.H.T. or H.T.

5. Discuss consequences of their actions with children and make bullies accountable.

6. Involve parents where necessary and enlist their support and co-operation in resolving the situation.

7. In extreme cases where no satisfactory outcome can be reached at school level, the authority can be involved.