ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

Statement of Intent
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 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
	Racist racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
	Sexual unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
	Homophobic because of, or focussing on the issue of sexuality
	Verbal name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
	Cyber All areas of internet, such as email & internet chat room misuse Mobile threats by text messaging & calls Misuse of associated technology, i.e. camera & video facilities

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 a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.

Objectives of this Policy

	All teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
	All teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
	All pupils and parents 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.

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:

	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)
	begins to truant
	becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence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
	feels ill in the morning
	begins to do poorly in school work
	comes home with clothes torn or books damaged
	has possessions which are damaged or "go missing"
	asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
	has dinner or other monies continually "lost"
	has unexplained cuts or bruises
	becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
	is bullying other children or siblings
	stops eating
	is frightened to say what's wrong
	gives improbable excuses for any of the above
	is afraid to use the internet or mobile phone
	is nervous & jumpy when a cyber message is received

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

Outcomes

1.	The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise. Other consequences may take place.
2.	Impose sanctions against bully (bullies).
3.	Inform bully (bullies) parents.
4.	Provide watchful eye on victim by all staff during school day.
5.	Hold lessons/class discussions/assemblies about bullying.
6.	If possible, the pupils will be reconciled.
7.	Encourage the bully (bullies) to change his/their behaviour.
8.	After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.

Resolution

	Hold a follow-up meeting with victim's family to report progress.
	Inform all members of staff about the incident and action taken.
	Keep a written record of incident, interviews and action taken.

Prevention
We will use KIDSCAPE methods for helping children to prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include:

	writing a set of school rules
	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
	making up role-plays (or using KIDSCAPE role-plays)
	having discussions about bullying and why it matters

HELP ORGANISATIONS:

Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)	0808 800 5793
Children's Legal Centre	0845 345 4345
KIDSCAPE Parents Helpline (Mon-Fri, 10-4)	0845 1 205 204
Parentline Plus	0808 800 2222
Youth Access	020 8772 9900
Bullying Online:	www.bullying.co.uk

Visit the Kidscape website www.kidscape.org.uk for further support, links and advice.

February 2010. CW