Scottish-based research indicates that schools, where attainment is higher than expected for their catchment area, demonstrate positive relationships throughout the school community and that children and young people are involved meaningfully in decisions which affect them at all levels of the school.

View: Respect for All – The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young People.

Adults should establish open, positive and supportive relationships where children and young people feel safe, secure and listened to in their ability to discuss sensitive issues. It is essential that all adults model behaviour which promotes positive relationships and positive behaviours.

We identified the opportunity for Parent Councils to access online modules to help those parents working with their schools to look at any anti-bullying or positive relationships policies.

These modules are now open to ALL parents and can be accessed through the link below. You will need to complete both modules within 4 weeks of registration.

Access: Respect Me eLearning modules

What is Bullying behaviour?

“Bullying is face-to-face and/or online behaviour which impacts on a person’s sense of physical and emotional safety, their capacity to feel in control of their life and their ability to respond effectively to the situation they are in. The behaviour does not need to be repeated, or intended to cause harm, for it to have an impact. Bullying behaviour can be physical, emotional or verbal and can cause people to feel hurt, threatened, frightened and left out.”

Respect for All: The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young People (updated 2024)

All schools should have an anti-bullying policy. This policy must reflect the Dumfries and Galloway guidance, and also Respect for All: The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young People.

Schools will have different ways of putting the principles of anti-bullying into practice to reflect local environments and culture. Schools should have an approach which makes it clear that bullying behaviour will be addressed in line with Scottish Government approaches.

The entire school community: teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents, should be involved and must be committed to this and this can be achieved by working together in the development and implementation of the school’s anti-bullying policy. The policy should be reviewed on a regular basis and schools are currently reviewing and updating their following the advice within this link –https://www.respectme.org.uk/policy-development-principles/