Policy on Bullying

You can find our Behaviour Policy, which should be viewed alongside our Anti Bullying Policy, in the Key Info section.

To view our Anti-Bullying Leaflet, created by our Children’s Leadership Team, please click here

Introduction

  1. It is a government requirement that all schools have an anti-bullying policy.  In 2003, Ofsted published Bullying: Effective Action in Secondary schools.  This was followed by DFE guidance for schools under two headings: Don’t Suffer in Silence and Bullying- A charter for Action.  This policy reflects this guidance.

  2. DFE guidance defines bullying as actions that are meant to be hurtful, and which happen on a regular basis. Bullying can be direct (either physical or verbal)or indirect (e.g. being ignored or not spoken to).

Aims and Objectives

  1. Bullying is wrong and damages individual children/ We therefore do all we can to prevent it, by developing a school ethos in which bullying is regarded as unacceptable.

  2. We aim, as a school, to produce a safe and secure environment where all can learn without anxiety, and measures are in place to reduce the likelihood of bullying.

  3. This policy aims to produce a consistent school response to any bullying incidents that may occur.

  4. We aim to make all those connected with the school aware of our opposition to bullying, and we make clear each person’s responsibilities with regard to the eradication of bullying in our school.

The Role of Governors

  1. The governing body supports the head teacher in all attempts to eliminate bullying from our school.  The governing body will not condone any bullying at school, ad any incidents of bullying that do occur will be taken very seriously, and dealt with appropriately.

  2. The governing body monitors incidents of bullying that do occur, and reviews the effectiveness of the policy regularly.  The governing body require the head teacher to keep accurate records of all incidents of bullying, and to report to  the governors on request about the effectiveness of school anti-bullying strategies.

  3. A parent who is dissatisfied with the way the school has dealt with a bullying incident can ask the chair of governors to look into the matter.  The governing body responds within 10 days to any request from a parent to investigate incidents of bullying.  In all cases, the governing body notifies the head teacher, and asks him/her to conduct an investigation into the case, and to report back to a representative of the governing body.

The Role of the Head Teacher.

  1. It is the responsibility of the head teacher to implement the school anti-bullying strategy and to ensure that all staff(both teaching and non-teaching)are aware of school policy, and know how to identify and deal with incidents of bullying.  The head teacher reports to the governing body about the effectiveness of the anti-bullying policy on request.

  2. The head teacher ensures that all children know that bullying is wrong, and that it is unacceptable behaviour in this school. The head teacher draws the attention of children to this fact at suitable moments. For example, if an incident occurs, the head teacher may decide to use an assembly as the forum in which to discuss with other children why this behaviour is wrong, and why a pupil is being punished.

  3. The head teacher and deputy head ensures that all staff, including MDSAs , receive sufficient training to be equipped to identify and deal with all incidents of bullying.

  4. The head teacher sets the school climate of mutual support and praise through vehicles such as The Neston Promise, so making bullying less likely.

 The role of teacher and support staff.

  1. All staff in our school take all forms of bullying seriously, and seek to prevent it from taking place.

  2. Teachers keep their own records of all incidents which happen in their class, and that they are aware of in the school. If the teacher witnesses an act of bullying, they will either investigate it themselves or refer to the head teacher.  Teachers and support staff do all they can to support the child who is being bullied.  

  3. When any bullying has taken place between members of the class, the teacher will deal with the issue immediately.  This may involve counselling and support for the victim, and consequences for the offender.  Time is spent talking to the child who has done the bullying, explaining to them why that action was wrong and how they should behaviour differently in the future.  If a child is repeatedly involved in bullying, staff will inform the head teacher and the SENCO.  The school will invite the child’s parents in to  discuss the situation.  In more extreme cases, e.g. where these initial discussions have proved ineffective, the head teacher may contact external support agencies.

  4. All members of staff attend training which equips them to identifying bullying and to follow school policy and procedures with regard to behaviour management.

  5. Teachers use a range of methods to help prevent bullying and to establish a climate of trust and respect for all. They use drama, role play, circle time within the formal curriculum , to help pupils understand the feelings of bullied children and to practise the restraint required to avoid lapsing into bullying behaviour.  Circle time is also used to praise, reward and celebrate the success of al children, and thus to help create a positive atmosphere.

 The Role of Parents

  1. Parents who are concerned that their child might be being bullied or who suspect that their child might be the perpetrator of bullying, should contact their child’s class teacher immediately. If they are not satisfied with the response, they should contact the head teacher.  If they remain dissatisfied, they should follow the school’s complaints procedure.

  2. Parents have a responsibility to support the school’s anti-bullying policy, actively encouraging their child to be a positive member of the school.

The Role of Pupils

  1. Pupils are encouraged to tell anybody they trust if they are being bullied, and if the bullying continues, they must keep on letting people know.

  2. Pupils are invited to tell staff their views about a range of school issues, including bullying.

Monitoring and Review

  1. This policy is monitored on a day-to –day basis by the head teacher, who reports to governors on request about the effectiveness of the policy.

  2. The Policy on Bullying is the governors’ responsibility, and they review its effectiveness annually.  They do this by examining the school’s anti-bullying log book, where the incidents of bullying are recorded and by discussion with the head teacher.  Governors analyse information for patterns of people, places and groups. They look out in particular for racist, bullying directed at children with disabilities or special educational needs.  This information is reported on the Head Teacher’s reports at every Full Governing Body meeting.

Policy on Bullying - Supporting Information

It is important to distinguish between normal growing up and finding your place in class or in the playground and real, systematic bullying. I am sure you can all recall instances where your child has been distraught after falling out with a friend and then the next day all is well.

The key characteristics of bullying behaviour are:-

•    that it is persistent and goes on over time;
•    that it is deliberate and not accidental;
•    that it involves the person doing the bullying in having some power over the other child.

Bullying is sustained, unkind behaviour (which can include physical hurting, stealing, damaging things, making fun of people or saying untrue things about them).  Not all unkind behaviour is bullying.

How can parents help their children? 
Younger children in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 take time to settle into lasting friendships and may change friends day by day; this is a normal part of growing up. As hormones kick in, children in upper Key Stage 2 can become moody and friendships can be strained. This is all normal, as we all know!

Our clear, straightforward school rules mean that all children know and understand what they should do and the consequences that will follow.

At Neston we aim to tackle bullying by trying to prevent it from happening in the first place and by tackling it consistently and fairly when it does.

Children both use and experience bullying behaviour from time to time and children can and do change their behaviour.  The following guidelines may be useful for parents to deal with issues as they arise.

All our children know that they should tell an adult if they are worried or concerned about anything.

My child is unhappy and has fallen out with his or her friends
•    ACTION: talk to your child. Talk about feelings and how to play together. Ask your child if s/he can play with another friend. Teach your child how to share and get on with others. 

My child is still unhappy and does not seem to have friends
•    ACTION: talk to your child’s teacher. Often a quick word can help resolve small problems. We can help your child choose a friend for playtimes. Our lunchtime supervisors will look out for children who may be experiencing friendship difficulties.

My child is really unhappy and there seems to be a persistent, underlying problem
•    ACTION: make an appointment with your child’s teacher to discuss the problem in depth. Make a further appointment in a couple of weeks’ time to see how things are going.

My child is still unhappy and the issues have not been resolved
•    ACTION: make an appointment to see Ms Patrick
•    ACTION: make an appointment to see Mrs Evans

These websites may be useful: