RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL …
Anti–Bullying
Policy
The staff of the Model Primary and Nursery Unit endeavour to provide a school atmosphere in which all pupils are cared for in a friendly and safe environment and that learning can take place in a calm and secure atmosphere. In this school we believe that all children have a right to an education free from bullying or the threat of bullying. It is the responsibility of all those involved in the school to ensure that bullying is unacceptable and this policy contains guidelines to support this ethos.
However, there may well be situations arising where bullying occurs. We believe that the victims of bullying should be able to talk in confidence in a secure and caring setting about their experiences. They should know that the school will not tolerate bullying and will enforce measures promptly and effectively which should help to eradicate it.
We are a ‘Telling School’. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff. We at the Model Primary and Nursery Unit actively promote positive interpersonal relations between all members of the school community; teaching staff, non teaching staff, pupils, parents/guardians and governors.
The school has a zero tolerance on bullying of all members of the school community.
This document outlines how we make this possible at the Model Primary School.
Aims
• To promote a secure and happy environment where all children can learn without threat or intimidation from another individual or group.
• To promote a school environment where all members of the school community can carry out their daily tasks without the fear of confrontation or conflict
• To discourage bullying by implementing proactive measures
• To show a commitment to overcoming bullying by putting in place measures designed to eliminate it and to show that the school practises a zero tolerance to it.
What do we mean by bullying?
Bullying is any deliberate, hurtful, upsetting, frightening or threatening behaviour by an individual or group towards other people. It is repeated over a period of time and it is very difficult for the victims to defend themselves (remember STOP _ it happens Several Times On Purpose). Bullying results in worry, fear, pain and distress to the victim.
Bullying is NOT:
The odd occasion of falling out with friends, name calling, arguments or when the occasional trick or joke is played on someone. (It is bullying if it is done several times on purpose).
Children sometimes fall out or say things because they are upset. When occasional problems of this kind arise it is not classed as bullying. It is an important part of children’s development to learn how to deal with friendship breakdowns, the odd name calling or childish prank. We all have to learn how to deal with these situations and develop social skills to repair relationships.
These issues are dealt with by class teachers through the Northern Ireland Curriculum, for example: PDMU (Personal Development and Mutual Understanding), Citizenship lessons and by following the procedures outlined in our Positive Behaviour policy.
BULLYING CAN TAKE SEVERAL FORMS FOR EXAMPLE:
Emotional Bullying
This can include tormenting, hiding belongings, being unfriendly, humiliating, excluding someone from a group, ignoring or threatening someone.
Verbal Bullying
This can involve name calling, teasing, using offensives nicknames, taunting or threatening, spreading rumours, picking on someone because they are different (overweight, tall, small, have a disability) or because the person is from a different religious, racial or cultural background.
Physical Bullying
This can include pushing, kicking, hitting, spitting, pinching or any form of violence.
Other Bullying
This includes deliberate damage of someone else’s property or the taking of property without permission, for example sweets, stationery, books, and money it may also involve racist, religious or sexual taunts.
Cyber Bullying
What is cyber bullying?
· Cyber bullying includes sending or posting harmful or upsetting text, images or other messages, using the internet, mobile phones or other communication technology.
· It can take many forms, but can go even further than face to face bullying by invading home and personal space and can target one or more people.
· It can take place across age groups and target pupils, staff and others.
· It can include threats and intimidation, harassment, defamation, exclusion or peer rejection, impersonation and unauthorised publication of private information or images.
It can include messages intended as jokes, but which have a harmful or upsetting· effect.
Cyber bullying may be carried out in many ways, including:
· Threatening, intimidating or upsetting text messages;
· Threatening or embarrassing pictures and video clips via mobile phone
cameras;
· Silent or abusive phone calls or using the victim’s phone to harass others, to make them think the victim is responsible;
· Threatening or bullying emails, possibly sent using a pseudonym or someone else’s name;
· Menacing or upsetting responses to someone in a chat-room;
· Unpleasant messages sent during instant messaging;
· Unpleasant or defamatory information posted to blogs, personal websites and social networking sites (e.g. Facebook
Responsibilities Of All Members Of The School Community:
The Staff
Our staff will:
• Foster in our pupil’s self esteem, self respect and respect for others.
• Demonstrate by example the high standards of personal and social behaviour we expect from our pupils.
• Discuss bullying with all classes, so every pupil learns about the damage it causes to both the child who is bullied and to the bully, and the importance of telling a teacher about bullying when it happens.
• Be alert to signs of distress and other possible indications of bullying.
• Listen to children who have been bullied, take what they say seriously and act to support and protect them.
• Report suspected cases of bullying to; our designated teacher for Child Protection or our deputy designated teacher.
• Follow up any complaint by a parent about bullying and report back promptly and fully on the action which has been taken.
• Take part in Anti-Bullying week in November annually.
• Talk to Parents in September at Parent Information sessions about the school’s Code of Conduct, anti-bullying measures and expected behaviours.
• Record all behaviour incidents in the Behavioural Log AS REQUIRED.
The Pupils
We expect our pupils to:
• Refrain from becoming involved in any kind of bullying, even at the risk of incurring temporary unpopularity.
• Intervene to protect the pupil who is being bullied, unless it is unsafe to do so.
• Report to a member of staff any witnessed or suspected instances of bullying.
If any pupil becomes the target of bullies, they should:
• Have the courage to tell and not suffer in silence.
The Parents
We ask our parents to support their children and the school by:
• Watching for signs of distress or unusual behaviour in their children, which might be evidence of bullying.
• Advising their children to report any bullying to their class teacher and explain the implications of allowing the bullying to continue unchecked, for themselves and for other pupils.
• Advising their children not to retaliate violently to any forms of bullying.
• Being sympathetic and supportive towards their children and reassuring them that appropriate action will be taken.
• Keeping a written record of any reported instances of bullying.
• Demonstrate by example the high standards of personal and social behaviour we expect from our pupils.
• Informing the school of any suspected bullying, even if their children are not involved.
• Co-operating with the school if their children are accused of bullying to try to ascertain the truth, and point out the implications of bullying, both for the children who are bullied and for the bullies themselves.
• By attending specific internet awareness training which includes information on cyber bullying (NSPCC & Community Police Officer)
All
Everyone should:
• Work together to combat and, hopefully in time, to eradicate bullying.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES:
Whole School initiatives and proactive teaching strategies will be used throughout the school to promote positive behaviour and develop a positive learning environment with the aim of reducing the opportunities for bullying to occur. These can include:
• Involving the whole school community in writing and reviewing this policy
• Creating a nurturing, caring and inclusive environment.
• School council producing a leaflet on bullying
• Children producing anti bullying posters in their classes
• Each class agreeing their own set of class rules
• Making National Anti Bullying week a high profile event each year
• Raising awareness through anti bullying assemblies
• Bringing in different people/groups to talk to the children
• PDMU scheme of work from P1 to P7 used to support this policy
• Helping Hands programme
• Roots of Empathy programme
• Living and Learning Together boxes
• Sesame Street resources (foundation)
• Circle time on bullying issues – “Quality Circle Time in The Classroom” by Jenny Mosley (Timetabled area)
• Lessons on staying safe on the internet and safe use of mobile phones (See e-safety policy)
• Children writing stories and poems and drawing pictures about bullying
• Children reading stories about bullying
• Using drama activities and role play to help children be more assertive and teach them strategies to help them deal with bullying situations
• Creation of an anti bullying school notice board
• Displaying anti bullying posters produced by the children around the school
• Encouraging their child/children to use the confidential “Grey Box” where children can write and post their concerns and ideas(opened daily and any concerns acted upon)
• Using praise and rewards to reinforce good behaviour at home and support staff in their efforts.
• Encouraging the whole school community to model appropriate behaviour towards one another.
PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH INCIDENTS OF BULLYING BEHAVIOUR:
All Staff will respond calmly and consistently to all allegations and incidents of bullying at Model Primary and Nursery Unit. They will be taken seriously and dealt with impartially and promptly. All those involved will have the opportunity to be heard. Staff will protect and support all children involved whilst allegations and incidents are investigated and resolved. The following step-by-step procedure will be used for reporting and responding to bullying allegations or incidents:
1. Report all bullying allegations and incidents to the class teacher.
2. The teacher will make sure the victim(s) is and feels safe.
3. Appropriate advice will be given to help the victim(s).
4. The teacher will listen and speak to all children involved about the incident separately.
5. The problem will be identified and possible solutions suggested.
6. Teachers will reinforce to the bully that their behaviour is unacceptable.
7. Appropriate sanctions will be applied. These have been discussed by the children in their classes and some are included in the list below:
o Apologise to the victim(s) verbally or in writing
o Lose privileges
o Lose playtimes
o Be withdrawn from participation in a school visit, clubs and events not essential to the curriculum
o For more serious cases, suspension of a fixed term may be invoked (See Exclusion and Expulsion section of Model Discipline Policy)
o Permanent exclusion
8. Support will be given to help the bully (bullies) understand his/her/their behaviour. Targets may be set for them .
9. In proven cases of bullying, incidents will be recorded by staff on an Incident Report form and then forwarded to the relevant Key Stage coordinator. These may be discussed with the Principal and kept on file.
10. In serious cases parents will be informed and will be invited to come into school for a meeting to discuss the problem.
After the incident has been investigated and dealt with feedback will be given to those concerned. Each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.
If parents feel that the issue has not been satisfactorily resolved they reserve the right to discuss the matter with a Board of Governors sub committee.
11. If necessary and appropriate, relevant professionals may be contacted, such as EWO, Child Protection Officer, Behaviour Management Team, Education Psychology, Social Services or Police.
Bullying Incident Report Form
Name of Pupil Class
Date
Details of incident
Incident reported to
Action taken
Signed by
Class Teacher
Pupil
Head of Key Stage
Parent
Appendix.
Watch out for the signs of bullying:
A child might:
• Not want to go to school
• Begin truanting or go missing from home
• Often feel ill
• Suddenly become ill when it’s time for school
• Be frightened to walk to & from school
• Begin to lag in their schoolwork
More signs to watch for:
• ‘Lose’ possessions at school
• Cease to communicate with their parents (particularly after school)
• Change their behaviour, e.g. become aggressive, withdrawn, anxious
• Lose their appetite
• Have regular nightmares, trouble sleeping and / or begin bed-wetting
• Ask for money or begin to steal money
• Bully younger brothers / sisters
• Self harm or attempt suicide
If you see these signs – tell someone.
Signed _____________________ Date___________
Signed…………………………………….Chair of Governors
Signed……………………………………Principal
Review Date ……………………………………
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