ANTI-BULLYING POLICY FOR WOOLDALE JUNIOR SCHOOL

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1 ANTI-BULLYING POLICY FOR WOOLDALE JUNIOR SCHOOL January

2 Wooldale Junior School January 2010 Anti-Bullying Policy Introduction All staff in schools and other educational establishments are bound by law to help protect children from abuse (Kirklees Education Service-child protection procedures) Abusive behaviour in school can include bullying and both adults and children can be involved as perpetrators, victims and bystanders. Teachers as well as pupils need a supportive school culture which deals effectively with behaviour. We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell an adult 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. Wooldale staff, parents and carers, the local community and Kirklees Council agencies have to work closely together to eliminate (or reduce) the incidence of bullying and harassment and ensure children receive support if they do become victims. (See Appendix 1. Kirklees Anti Bullying Strategy, October 2009.) Objectives of this policy All governors, Wooldale staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is. All governors and Wooldale staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises. As a school we take bullying seriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported. Bullying will not be tolerated. 2

3 What is bullying? Bullying is the repeated use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. A bully is someone who knowingly commits unkind acts towards an individual or group. 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 Cyber-bullying threatening and emotional abuse using mobile phones, The Internet etc. Racist racial taunts, graffiti, gestures Sexual unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments Homophobic because of, or focusing on the issue of sexuality Verbal name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing Cultural being disrespectful about religious beliefs of others Disability rel d name calling, physical hurt towards children who are disabled or Special Educational Needs (SEN) pupils Why is it important to respond to bullying? School and services work closely together to support children in achieving the five outcomes central to Every Child Matters. The aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to: 1. be healthy 2. stay safe 3. enjoy and achieve 4. make a positive contribution 5. achieve economic wellbeing Wooldale Junior School s vision is that: pupils feel safe from bullying 3

4 when bullying does occur pupils are confident that appropriate action will be taken pupils contribute to the strategies to prevent bullying all services work together to provide a co-ordinated approach everyone in our community is committed to tackling bullying and creating an environment in which bullying is unacceptable. 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. Wooldale Junior School aims to encourage good behaviour and respect for others (see Discipline and Good Behaviour Policy ). Wooldale Junior School has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying. Signs and symptoms of bullying 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: is frightened of walking to or from school begs to be driven to school changes their usual routine is unwilling to go to school (school phobic) is reluctant to go into the playground or keen to stay around adults is in isolation in the playground, dining room etc begins truanting / erratic attendance becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence starts stammering attempts or threatens suicide or runs away cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares has problems with sleeping, bedwetting, nightmares etc 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 dinner or other monies continually lost has unexplained cuts or bruises 4

5 comes home starving (money/lunch has been stolen) becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable is bullying other children or siblings stops eating / anorexia / bulimia / excessive comfort eating is frightened to say what s wrong a pupil displaying promiscuous sexual behaviour 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. It is important that bullying incidents are reported to staff and that pupils are encouraged to report incidents to staff. 2. The Head Teacher should be informed of bullying incidents and be involved if serious or repeated incidents occur. 3. Incidents should be recorded in the School s Anti-Bullying Log. In addition School has a duty to record all reported bullying to the Local Authority through K-BAIRD (Kirklees Bullying and Incident Reporting Database, also known by its Commercial Name Sentinel) 4. Parents of the perpetrator(s) / victim will be informed of serious bullying incidents by the Head Teacher. Subsequent meetings between the Head Teacher and parents may occur. 5. Ultimately the Head teacher is responsible for any decisions made/action taken. Outcomes 1. The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise. Other consequences may take place, depending on the severity of the situation. For example, the bully could write a letter of apology to the victim 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 formally or informally, to ensure repeated bullying does not take place. 5. The perpetrator may be placed on the SEN register and an IBP (Individual Behaviour Plan) written 5

6 Disciplinary action has three main purposes. Firstly, to impress on the perpetrator that, what she/he has done is unacceptable. Secondly, to deter her/him from repeating that behaviour and lastly, as a signal to other pupils that the behaviour is unacceptable and deter them from doing it. Sanctions for bullying are intended to hold pupils who bully to account for their behaviour and ensure that they face up to the harm they have caused and learn from it. Sanctions also provide an opportunity for the pupil to put right the harm they have caused. Prevention Strategies are in place in our school to help prevent bullying. They include: making pupils aware of the school s two Golden Rules pupils writing a set of their own classroom rules (Code of Conduct) pupils signing a behaviour contract writing stories or poems or drawing pictures about bullying reading stories about bullying or having them read to a class or assembly participating in role-play about bullying/good/inappropriate behaviour scenarios having discussions about bullying and why it matters during P.S.H.C.E. (Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education) lessons circle time lessons teaching the SEAL programme throughout school, in particular the say no to bullying element of the programme teaching SILVER SEAL in school setting up a buddying scheme peer support the appointment of play leaders peer support rewards and positive behaviour policies applied consistently consultation with children ensures their views are heard (including The School Council) helping pupils to acquire skills that help them resolve bullying situations e.g. assertiveness, conflict resolution (P.S.H.C.E.) Wooldale Junior School recognises that it is critical that vulnerable children are identified; their needs assessed, and appropriate early intervention programmes made available. We need to work with and support all children who are involved in bullying those bullied, those who bully and those who encourage bullying by acting as bystanders. Education about bullying for primary pupils should begin at the earliest opportunity. 6

7 Further reading contains relevant material and guide lines and is available on the Kirklees Ednet website. Healthy Schools Guidance. Anti-bullying. Guidance for Schools Safe to learn: Embedding anti-bullying work in schools. Tackling School bullying Help Organisations: Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) Children s Legal Centre KIDSCAPE (Parents Helpline, Mon-Fri 10-4) Parentline Plus Youth Access Child Line Free phone Samaritans 7

8 Appendix I Kirklees Anti Bullying Strategy Please ask in school for these pages 8