“Children have the right to protection from all forms of violence (physical or mental). They must be kept safe from harm and those looking after them must give them proper care.”
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 19
Introduction
“North Lanarkshire Council is committed to the belief that every child and young person has the right to grow up free from bullying. We want children and young people to live, learn, socialize and work in an inclusive community where differences between people are valued, people support one another and treat each other with respect, empathy and compassion.”
North Lanarkshire Anti-bullying Strategy, Bullying: It’s Never Acceptable, 2012
Aims:
In partnership with parents, pupils and the wider community, we aim to:
• Prevent bullying behaviour taking place wherever possible.
• Reduce bullying when it does happen and aim for cessation of bullying behaviour.
• Provide support for children and their families who have been affected by bullying.
• Build resilience in children and young people and their capacity to address bullying.
Definition – What is Bullying? (Taken from Respect Me, Scotland)
Bullying is a mixture of behaviours and impacts which can impact on a person’s capacity to feel in control of themselves. Bullying takes place in the context of relationships; it is behaviour that can make people feel hurt, threatened, frightened and left out. This behaviour can include:
Physical – hurting people, negative behaviour, victimisation.
Verbal – name calling, teasing, being nasty, being hurtful, being unjust, being unfair, gossiping
Material – stealing or damaging property.
Emotional/mental – intimidation, making people think less of themselves, excluding people, scaring people, blackmailing, mental and emotional abuse.
Social – embarrassing someone whether intentionally or not, having awareness of an incident of bullying behaviour and failing to stop it, humiliation of another, manipulation of another, isolation of another, exerting peer pressure.
Cyber – where technology is used to send threatening, offensive or intimidating messages to another person, sometimes anonymously.
What is NOT bullying?*
Children will tease, fall in and out with each other, have arguments, stop talking to each other and agree and disagree about what’s cool and what’s not. This is a normal part of growing up and should be distinguished from bullying. However, in an environment where this behaviour is left unchecked, it can lead to bullying leaving those being bullied feeling afraid, uncomfortable and unsafe in their environment.
*Advice from www.respectme.org.uk
Reporting and Dealing with Bullying Type Behaviours/Allegations/Incidents
• Staff will listen to individuals concerned and record reports of bullying.
• Unresolved incidents or serious occurrences will be reported directly to a member of the senior management team and investigated by them.
• When concerns are raised regarding bullying behaviour, the situation will be closely monitored by the school.
• Each incident will be dealt with individually and sensitively.
• Bullying type behaviours will be dealt with in line with the school’s promoting positive behaviour policy and in serious circumstances, the Head Teacher may refer to North Lanarkshire Council’s Indiscipline and Exclusion procedures (Circular B12).
Preventing and Addressing Bullying Type Behaviour at Noble Primary School
We believe in building a learning community that is built on trust, responsibility and respect. Bullying behaviour, in any form, is NOT tolerated.
We believe that the most powerful preventative strategies are those which aim to build communities of respect, where individuals model appropriate behaviours and communicate the value and worth of every person.
We continue to prevent and address bullying type behaviour using the following strategies:
• Promoting a positive ethos and creating a climate of respect, responsibility and positive relationships.
• Worry box
• Learning about children’s rights and discussing ways we can respect each other
• Reflecting on school rules and class charter (rights and rights respecting actions).
• Mental, emotional and social health and wellbeing programmes eg. Circle Time, Promoting Alternative Thinking Skills, Social Skills, Restorative Practices.
• Being proactive information strategies and campaigns eg. Show Racism the Red Card, anti-bullying week, anti-sectarianism strategy
• Using positive behaviour strategies within the classroom and wider school.
• Repairing relationships through restorative approaches, focusing on the harm that has been caused and the impact this has had.
• Personal support and additional support for those involved.
Class Charters
We are committed to promoting Children’s Rights. This involves the whole school community learning about children’s rights through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. There is a strong emphasis on promoting positive relationships, and our class charters reflect these values. Reflecting on these rights, reinforces that bullying type behaviour is not acceptable in our school.
Labelling
As per the advice from Respect Me (Scottish anti-bullying strategy), we don’t label children and young people as ‘bullies’ or ‘victims’. Labelling a child or young person on the basis of bullying behaviour can result in a confirmed identity as a ‘bully’ or ‘victim’ resulting in ongoing behaviour patterns based on this identity. This is not about diluting behaviour but is to keep the focus of the adult’s responses on the behaviour that is problematic, rather than the assigning characteristics to those involved. This solution focussed approach is designed to help people change the way they behave, rather than attempt to change who they are. We help people change by telling them, and naming the behaviour that is unacceptable, being clear that what they are doing is bullying and that it needs to stop.
What to do if you are experiencing bullying behaviour
♦ Tell the person who is bullying or harassing you to stop, if you feel confident to do so.
♦ Ignore them
♦ Walk away
♦ Make a joke of it
♦ Don’t show you’re upset
♦ Keep calm
♦ Talk to someone else
♦ Speak up – tell an adult .e.g. teacher, parent, friend, relative. This is not grassing everyone has the right to feel safe and
♦ Keep telling until the problem is resolved
No Hitting Policy
In the school’s efforts to minimise incidents of bullying, it must be stated that any form of physical action or retaliation is unacceptable as this can lead to escalation of the situation. We do not encourage and actively discourage violence of any kind.
Recording and Monitoring
The policy will be evaluated against the following criteria:
1. All reported incidents of bullying are dealt with promptly and effectively and monitored.
2. Whole school strategies are in place to aid children in their attempts to deal with bullying.
3. Incidents of bullying throughout the school are significantly reduced.
4. The policy outlined above is accepted and implemented by the whole school community.
Concerns/Complaints Procedure
If you have concerns or complaints regarding the service you are receiving, these can be addressed by contacting the Head Teacher in the first instance. Should you remain dissatisfied the Head Teacher will advise you of the next steps available to you.
Internet Links to advice on bullying for schools
www.respectme.org
www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa
www.kidshealth.org
www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk
www.anti‐bullyingalliance.org.uk
www.beatbullying.org.uk
www.bullying.co.uk
www.bullyonline.org
www.childline.org.uk
www.safechild.org
www.childrenslegalcentre.com
