Polasaí Frithbhulaíochta Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ

Transcription

1 Plasaí Frithbhulaíchta Laurel Hill Cláiste FCJ 1. In accrdance with the requirements f the Educatin (Welfare) Act 2000 and the cde f behaviur guidelines issued by the NEWB, the Bard f Management f Laurel Hill Cláiste FCJ has adpted the fllwing anti-bullying plicy within the framewrk f the schl's verall cde f behaviur. This plicy fully cmplies with the requirements f the Anti-Bullying Prcedures fr Primary and Pst- Primary Schls which were published in September The Bard f Management recgnises the very serius nature f bullying and the negative impact that it can have n the lives f pupils and is therefre fully cmmitted t the fllwing key principles f best practice in preventing and tackling bullying behaviur: A psitive schl culture and climate which- is welcming f difference and diversity and is based n inclusivity: encurages pupils t disclse and discuss incidents f bullying behaviur in a nn-threatening envirnment; and prmtes respectful relatinships acrss the schl cmmunity; Effective leadership; A schl-wide apprach; A shared understanding f what bullying is and its impact: Implementatin f educatin and preventin strategies (including awareness raising measures) that- build empathy, respect and resilience in pupils; and explicitly address the issues f cyber-bullying and identity-based bullying including in particular, hmphbic and transphbic bullying. Effective supervisin and mnitring f pupils; Supprts fr staff; Cnsistent recrding, investigatin and fllw up f bullying behaviur (including use f established interventin strategies); and On-ging evaluatin f the effectiveness f the anti-bullying plicy. 1

2 3. In accrdance with the Anti-Bullying Prcedures r Primary and Pst-Primary Schls bullying is defined as fllws: Bullying is unwanted negative behaviur, verbal, psychlgical r physical cnducted, by an individual r grup against anther persn (r persns) and which is repeated ver time. The fllwing types f bullying behaviur are included in the definitin f bullying: deliberate exclusin, malicius gssip and ther frms f relatinal bullying. cyber-bullying and Identity-based bullying such as hmphbic bullying, racist bullying, bullying based n a persn's membership f the Traveller cmmunity and bullying f thse disabilities r special educatinal needs. Islated r nce-ff incidents f intentinal negative behaviur, including a nce-ff ffensive r hurtful text message r ther private messaging, d nt fall within the definitin f bullying and shuld be dealt with, as apprpriate, in accrdance with the schl's cde f behaviur. Hwever, in the cntext f this plicy, placing a nce-ff ffensive r hurtful public message, image r statement n a scial netwrk site r ther public frum where that message, image r statement can be viewed and/r repeated by ther peple will be regarded as bullying behaviur. Negative behaviur that des nt meet this definitin f bullying will be dealt with in accrdance with the schl's cde f behaviur. Additinal infrmatin n different types f bullying is set ut in Sectin 2 f the Anti- Bullying Prcedures fr Primary and Pst-Primary Schls. 4. The relevant teachers fr investigating and dealing with bullying are as fllws: All Schl Persnnel 2

3 5. The educatin and preventin strategies (including strategies specifically aimed at cyber bullying, hmphbic and trans phbic bullying) that will be used by the schl are as fllws : Cnscius effrt by whle schl cmmunity t prmte caring envirnment Raising awareness f issues at beginning f each schl year Anti-bullying plicy clarified by all teachers Vigilance + Supervisin by all schl persnnel Health Educatin classes/cspe classes Building empathy, resilience and respect in students Buddy System Psitive Mental Health Awareness Week Supprting the wrk f the Students Cuncil Supprting the wrk f the Parents Cuncil Cunselling and supprt structures t prevent reccurrence Guest speakers n issues invlved Gradam Cmpánachais 3

4 6. The schl's prcedures fr investigatin, fllw-up and recrding f bullying behaviur and the established interventin strategies used by the schl fr dealing with cases f bullying behaviur are as fllws Stage 1 The schls primary aim is reslutin, rather than apprtining blame All reprts will be investigated and dealt with Any pupil r parent/guardian may bring a bullying incident t any teacher in the schl It will be made clear t pupils that where they reprt incidents f bullying, they are nt cnsidered t be telling tales but are behaving respnsibly Full cperatin f all parties invlved is essential In dealing with & investigating bullying, the relevant teacher will exercise his/her prfessinal judgement t determine whether bullying has ccurred and hw best the situatin might be reslved An incident reprt will be filled ut. Initially, reprts will be investigated n a n blame basis. It will be made clear t the student(s) that their behaviur is causing hurt and distress and that it is unacceptable. If this is the first incident in which they have been invlved, it will be treated as a nce ff incident which can be rectified. The student(s) will be asked t sign and hnur a cntract t stp the behaviur and t treat all thers fairly and with respect. N further disciplinary actin will be taken. The student(s) may be asked t meet with the Guidance Cunsellr t talk abut their behaviur. They will be ffered supprt frm the cunsellr, if necessary. Staff will mnitr the situatin n an n-ging basis. Stage2 If the behaviur is repeated, a bullying incident reprt will be filled ut. Parents will be cntacted and asked t cuntersign their daughter s cntract. Sanctins may be impsed and the student(s) may nt be allwed t participate in schl activities and events. Stage 3 A further breach f the cntract will be regarded as a very serius cntraventin and may warrant suspensin and expulsin. Nte: Incidents deemed t be very serius will prgress immediately t Stage 2/Stage 3. 4

5 7. The schl's prgramme f supprt fr wrking with pupils affected by bullying is as fllws: The guidance cunsellr will be available t cunsel and listen t the student and t advise relevant members f staff and parents. The year head/frm tutr will be available t meet regularly with the student in a supprtive capacity. The year head/frm tutr will als mnitr the situatin and cmmunicate and cnsult with relevant members f staff and parents as necessary. The student will be encuraged t participate in activities designed t raise their self-esteem. The student will als be encuraged t develp psitive friendships and sund scial skills thereby increasing self-cnfidence and building resilience. In sme cases where the guidance cunsellr and year head have been wrking with bth the student invlved in bullying behaviur and the targeted student, it may be pssible t bring the students tgether if the targeted student wants and agrees t this actin, in a bid t reslve the prblem. The guidance cunselr/year head/frm tutr will als prvide an pprtunity fr thse students indirectly affected by bullying t express their feelings and cncerns. The student invlved in bullying behaviur will be helped t understand the reasns fr their bullying behaviur and the detrimental impact f their behaviur n thers. Every reasnable effrt will be made t help the student t increase their self-wrth and t help them learn ther ways f behaving that d nt vilate the rights f thers. 8. Supervisin and Mnitring f Pupils The Bard f Management cnfirms that apprpriate supervisin and mnitring plicies and practices are in place t bth prevent and deal with bullying behaviur and t facilitate early interventin where pssible. 9. Preventin f Harassment The Bard f Management cnfirms that the schl will, in accrdance with its bligatins under equality legislatin, take all such steps that are reasnably practicable t prevent the sexual harassment f pupils r staff r the harassment f pupils r staff n any f the nine grunds specified i.e. gender including transgender, civil status, family status, sexual rientatin, religin, age, disability, race and membership f the Traveller cmmunity. This plicy was adpted by the Bard f Management in June 2014 This plicy has been made available t schl persnnel, published n the schl website, is therwise readily accessible t parents and pupils n request and prvided t the Parents' Assciatin. A cpy f this plicy will be made available t the Department and the patrn if requested. This plicy and its implementatin will be reviewed by the Bard f Management nce in every schl year. Written ntificatin that the review has been cmpleted will be made available t schl persnnel, published n the schl website and be therwise readily accessible t parents and pupils n request and prvided t the Parents' Assciatin. A recrd f the review and its utcme will be made available, if requested, t the patrn and the Department 5