The Queen Anne Royal Free CE First School
ANTI-BULLYING POLICYDeveloped by / J STREET ( Head / PSHE manager)
Approved by Curriculum Committee
Signed
To be reviewed in / March 2013
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.
Objectives of this Policy
· All governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
· All governors and 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
What Is Bullying?
Bullying is the persistent and deliberate intent to hurt, humiliate somebody. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.Bullying could relate to race, religion and culture, homophobic bullying, bullying related to special educational needs and disabilities, sexist and sexual bullying, andthe use of cyber technology to bully. We include the bullying of staff by parents or pupils.
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.
We recognise that we all have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying
PROCEDURES
Preventative Measures
The school works to prevent incidents of bullying through :
· Specific focus on bullying in the PSHE curriculum and Circle Time
· Information evenings for parents, training for staff and governors.
· Exploring with pupils, parents and staff behaviour which could be classed as bullying and behaviour which might not be classed as bullying.
· Taking part in the annual National Anti- Bullying week.
· Sharing of relevant pupil information with all staff at each staff meeting to enable staff to be alert to any potential difficulties
· Appropriate supervision at break times
· An approachable atmosphere developed in school, where pupils are able to confide in staff. ‘We are a telling school.’
· Staff training in specific emotional needs ( ELSA Teaching Assistant)
· Use of Circle of friends to target specific behaviour concerns
· Family Link worker in place to support and guide pupils and families
· Providing anti- Bullying information on the school website for parents.
Actions to be taken where bullying is suspected
If bullying is suspected, we will talk to the suspected victim, the suspected bully and any witnesses individually. We will undertake regular observations of behaviour and incidents both in class and at break times. All staff will be made aware of the need to log any observations. If any degree of bullying is identified, the following actions will be taken:
Support for the victim
· In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff in n the log book kept by the Head Teacher.
· Immediately offering the opportunity to talk about their experience either with the class teacher or another adult.
· Informing parents/guardians of the victim face to face or by telephone.
· Parents will be invited in for a conversation with the Head Teacher and, if appropriate, the class teacher.
· Offering support mechanisms when they feel they need it through discussions with class teacher, Teaching Assistant, Head Teacher.
· Sessions with the Family Link worker and/ or ELSA would timetabled if appropriate.
· Arranging for the victim to be escorted to and from the school premises where necessary
· Taking disciplinary steps to prevent more bullying
Discipline but help for the bully
· Talking about what happened to discover why they became involved
· Informing the bullies parent/guardian after evidence gathering either face to face or in a telephone conversation.
· Parents will be invited in for a conversation with the Head Teacher and, if appropriate, the class teacher.
· Sessions with the Family Link worker and/ or ELSA would timetabled if appropriate.
· The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise. Other consequences may take place linked to the steps in the Behaviour Policy ( September 2011)
· Working with bullies to get rid of prejudiced attitudes as far as possible
· If possible, the pupils will be reconciled taking disciplinary steps as appropriate to prevent further bullying.
· In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered
· The school disciplinary procedure will be followed ( see Behaviour Policy September 2011)
Copies of this policy will be available on the school website.
Parents will be signposted to this policy in the school prospectus and on the school website at the start of each academic year. Families joining school in-year will be signposted to the policy on entry.
A record of events, meetings, correspondence will be filed in the pupils records and copies kept for 6 years
QA Anti-Bullying Policy 2011