Compliance

This policy complies with the statutory requirements laid out in the Equalities Act 2010 and should be read in conjunction with the following documents:

•Equality Act 2010: advice for schools DfE (February 2013)

•Hartcliffe Nursery School & Children’s Centre Equalities Policy

•Safeguarding Policy

•DfE “Preventing and Tackling Bullying”(October 2014)

Rationale

At Hartcliffe Nursery School & Children’s Centre we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, staff and parents and expect all staff, volunteers and parents to share this commitment. Under the Children Act 1989 a bullying incident should be addressed as a child protection concern when there is ‘reasonable cause to suspect that a pupil is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm’. Where this is the case, the school staff should report their concerns to their local authority children’s social care.

This policy is closely linked with our Behaviour Policy, our Safeguarding Policy, our Code of Conduct and the school’s Vision, Aims and Values.

Policy Development

The policy was written by the Centre’s Assistant Headteacher for Inclusionand developed in conjunction with the Centre staff and Governors through consultation meetings held during the second term of the academic year 2015/16. Upon completion of the first draft, parent feedback was sought from a cross section of parents and carers.

Aims

We are determined to promote and develop a school ethos where bullying behaviour is regarded as unacceptable, to ensure a safe and secure environment is sustained for allpupils.

We aim for all pupils to reach their potential academically, socially and personally

throughplaying and learning in a safe and secure environment.

Objectives

  • monitorandreviewouranti-bullyingpolicy and practiceonaregularbasis, ensuringthat all governors andstaffknow whattheschool policy isonbullying,andfollowitshould bullyingbe reported;
  • support all staff topromote positive relationshipsto preventbullying, and identify andtackle any bullyingbehaviourappropriately and promptly;
  • ensurethat all pupilsandparents knowwhatthe school policy isonbullying,andwhatthey should doifbullyingarises;
  • reassureparentsand pupils that theywill besupportedifbullyingisreported.Asa school we take bullyingveryseriously.
  • reportback toparents/carersregarding theirconcernsonbullyingand dealpromptlywith complaints.parents/ carersin turnwillworkwith theschoolto upholdtheanti-bullyingpolicy.
  • ensurethat pupilsareaware thatall bullyingconcernswill bedealtwith sensitivelyand effectively so that theyfeel safetolearn;
  • support all pupils throughencouraging them to developpositive social skillsand attitudesby learninghowtorelatetoand respecteachother.

Definition of Bullying

Bullying is‘behaviour byan individual orgroup,repeated overtime,thatintentionallyhurtsanotherindividual orgroup eitherphysicallyoremotionally’.(DfE“PreventingandTacklingBullying”, October2014)Bullying can take manyformsand isoftenmotivated byprejudice againstparticulargroups.It mightbemotivated byactual differencesbetween children,orperceived differences.

Bullyingcanhappentoanyone. Thispolicycoversall typesofbullyingincluding:

  • Bullyingrelatedtorace, religionorculture.
  • BullyingrelatedtoSEND (Special Educational Needsor Disability).
  • Bullyingrelatedtoappearance orphysical/mentalhealth conditions.
  • Bullyingrelatedtosexual orientation (homophobicbullying).
  • Bullyingofyoungcarers, childrenin care orotherwise relatedto homecircumstances.
  • Sexist,sexual and transphobicbullying.
  • Bullyingvia technology –forinstance,cyber-bullying via textmessages orthe internet

Bullyingcaninclude:name calling, taunting, mocking,makingoffensive comments, kicking, hitting, takingbelongings, producingoffensive graffiti, gossiping,excludingpeoplefromgroups,andspreading hurtful and untruthfulrumours. This includes thesameinappropriateandharmful behavioursexpressed via digital devices (cyberbullying)suchasthesendingofinappropriatemessagesbyphone, text, Instant Messenger, through websites andsocial mediasitesand apps, and sending offensive ordegrading imagesby mobilephoneorvia theinternet.

Bullying Prevention

Preventing and raising awareness of bullying is an essential to keeping incidents in our Centre to a minimum. Pupils are given regular opportunities to discuss what bullying is, as well as incidents we would not describe as bullying, such as two friends falling out, or a one-off argument. Pupils are taught to tell an adult in school if they are concerned that someone is being bullied.Staff are aware of, and act upon, the signs of bullying that are laid out below and are particularly vigilant of children who are unable to verbally communicate, or who are from an identified vulnerable group.

Code of Conduct

Supportive Interactions Policy

Our Supportive Interactions Policy sets out clear strategies for supporting children with their peer and adult interactions.This document helps staff and children to have clear strategies for preventing inappropriate behaviour and promoting positive behaviour.

Responding to Bullying

All cases of alleged bullying should be reported to the Headteacher/Deputy or Assistant Headteacher. In any case of alleged bullying, either the Class Teacher, the Headteacher, or a senior leader should first establish the facts, and build an accurate picture of events over time, through speaking to the alleged perpetrator(s), victim(s) and adult witnesses, as well as parents and pupil witnesses if necessary and appropriate.

All bullying incidents must be recorded and reported to the Headteacher. Parents of both parties should be informed.If the situation does not improve, the Headteacher (or senior leader) should meet with the parent(s) and agree clear strategies to support both the perpetrator(s) and the victim(s). Any further incidents should lead to intervention (e.g. through outside agencies) and/or further monitoring. Any necessary action should be taken until the bullyinghas stopped.

Supporting Pupils

The first priority will be to support the victim.

Children who have been bullied will be supported by:

•Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with their teacher or a member of staff of their choice;

•Reassuring the pupil and providing continuous support;

•Helped to develop strategies to prevent re-occurrence;

•Restoring self-esteem and confidence.

Children who have bullied will be helped by:

•Discussing what happened and establishing the concern, developing an understanding of the impact of their actions on the victim, and helping them understand that what they have done is wrong and that they need to change their behaviour;

•Informing parents/carers to help change the attitude and behaviour of the child;

•Providing appropriate education and support;

•Sanctioning in line with school behaviour/discipline policy, for example, removal of the bully from the playground or classroom, time out in another class or with a senior teacher, or exclusion from playtime or lunchtime. In extreme cases, the parent may be asked to take the child home at lunch time, or as a final resort, a formal exclusion process may be instigated.

Supporting Adults

Adults (staff and parents) who have been bullied or affected will be supported by:

•Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the concern with a senior member of staff / head teacher;

•Being advised to keep a record of the bullying as evidence;

•Where the bullying takes place outside of the school site then the school will ensure that the concern is investigated and that appropriate action is taken in accordance with the schools

•behaviour and discipline policy or staff code of conduct;

•Reassuring and offering appropriate support;

•Working with the wider community and local/national organisations to provide further or specialist advice and guidance.

Adults (staff and parents) who have bullied will be helped by:

•Discussing what happened with a senior member of staff and establishing the concern;

•Clarifying the schools official procedures for complaints or concerns;

•If online, requesting content be removed and / or reporting account/content to service provider;

•Instigating disciplinary action, if appropriate.

Signs of Bullying

Staff should be vigilant in looking out for signs of bullying or other child protection

issues including:

  • Physical: unexplained bruised, scratches, cuts, missing belongings, damaged clothes, loss of appetite, stomach aches, headaches, bedwetting.
  • Emotional: losing interest in nursery, withdrawn, secretive, unusual shows of temper,refusal to say why unhappy, high level of anxiety, mood swings, tearfulness for no apparent reason, lack of confidence, headaches and stomach aches, signs of depression.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of:

•School Governors to take a lead role in monitoring and reviewing this policy;

•Governors and all staff to be aware of this policy and implement it accordingly;

•The Headteacher to communicate the policy to the school community and to ensure that disciplinary measures are applied fairly, consistently and reasonably;

•Staff to support and uphold the aims of the policy;

•Parents/carers to support their children and work in partnership with the school;

Review and monitoring

This policy will be monitored and reviewed in December 2016.

The head teacher will report on a regular basis to the governing body on incidents of bullying and outcomes.

The School & Centre will ensure that the policy is consistently applied and that any issues identified will be incorporated into the School & Centre’s action planning.

Supporting Organisations and Guidance

• Anti-Bullying Alliance:

• Beat Bullying:

• Childline:

•DfE: “Preventing and Tackling Bullying. Advice for headteachers, staff and governing bodies”, and “Supporting children and young people who are bullied: advice for schools” March 2014:

•DfE: “No health without mental health”: health-a-cross-government-outcomes-strategy

• Family Lives:

• Kidscape:

• MindEd:

• NSPCC:

• PSHE Association:

• Restorative Justice Council:

• The Diana Award:

• Victim Support:

• Young Minds:

• Young Carers:

Cyberbullying

• Childnet International:

• Digizen:

• Internet Watch Foundation:

• Think U Know:

• UK Safer Internet Centre:

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender)

• EACH:

• Pace:

• Schools Out:

• Stonewall:

SEND

• Changing Faces:

• Mencap:

• DfE: SEND code of practice:

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Racism and Hate

• Anne Frank Trust:

• Kick it Out:

• Report it:

• Stop Hate:

• Show Racism the Red Card:

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