Anti-Bullying Annex

Bullying of any kind is unacceptable in 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.
 
What is Bullying?
Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person.
Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.
 
Bullying can be:
  • Emotional being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books,threatening gestures)
  • Physical pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
  • Racial racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
  • Verbal name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
 
 
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 the 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:
  • Changes their usual routine
  • Is unwilling to go to school (school phobic)
  • Begins truanting
  • Becomes withdrawn, anxious, or lacking in confidence
  • Starts stammering
  • 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 go “missing”
  • Asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
  • Has unexplained cuts or bruises
  • Comes home starving (lunch has been stolen)
  • Becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
  • Is bullying other children or siblings
  • Stops eating
  • Is frightened to say what is wrong
  • Gives improbable excuses for any of the above
 
These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.
 
 
Procedures
 
  1. Report bullying incidents to staff
  2. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff
  3. In serious cases, parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem
  4. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly
  5. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour (see Positive Behaviour Policy)
 
 
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 use a variety of methods for helping children to prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include:
  • Using of and focusing on the Golden Rules
  • Signing a behaviour contract
  • Writing apology letters
  • Writing stories or poems or drawing pictures about bullying
  • Reading stories about bullying of having them read to a class or assembly
  • Making up role-plays
  • Having discussions about bullying and why it matters