Anti-Bullying

At St David’s Primary School we believe that our pupils have the right to learn in a supportive, caring environment without the fear of being bullied.  We recognise the rights of the school community regarding safety (UNCRC Articles 19, 34 and 37).  Bullying is a complex and widespread problem throughout society.  It must be acknowledged that bullying does exist and is a problem in all schools.  It can only be effectively dealt with when pupil, all staff and parents work co-operatively.  All staff have a responsibility to prevent and stop bullying as soon as they are aware of it.

 All bullying is unacceptable.  We are committed to combating all forms of bullying behaviour.

 Aims

 

Identifying Bullying

Bullying is persistent intentional abuse of power to hurt.  The more serious bullying is usually verbal, social or emotional in nature; it is not always as obvious as when it is purely physical.  It may manifest in any of the following ways:

 

• Unusual behaviour pattern
• Loss of confidence, tearfulness, refusing to say what is the matter
• Unwilling to become involved in class activities
• Irritable or hurtful towards those closest to them
• Deteriorating work standards
• Increased absences
• “losing” money or valuables
• Too frequent trips to the toilet
• Frequent bruises or cuts
• Reluctant to go out into the playground
• Clothes torn or property damaged
• Desire to stay in with the teacher or other adult
• Involved in bullying younger children as a learned way to respond to other children.

 

Bullies often persist in:

• Kicking, hilling, pushing, name calling
• Talking about, ridiculing, mimicking
• Ignoring, sending to Coventry

 

Role of the Staff in School

• To create a climate where the children feel safe to report instances of bullying
• To include anti-bullying in P.S.E class programmes to integrate strategies into the curriculum.
• To make bullies aware that what they are doing to others is wrong.
• To be sensitive, observant and responsive to incidents throughout the whole school.

 

Staff should support children in order to prevent bullying by:

 

• Discussing bullying and its effects
• Taking steps to avoid allowing or encouraging bullying in their own interaction with pupils.
• Fostering an atmosphere conductive to pupils confiding their problems
• Being aware of and diffusing potential situations before they escalate
• Encouraging pupils to report bullying
• Taking reports of bullying seriously
• Monitoring and recording incidents of bullying

 

The classroom assistants and SEN staff will observe and monitor the children’s behaviour while in the playground during intervals and lunchtimes.  They will intervene verbally to diffuse incidents and report any that arise to the Head Teacher.

Actions and Procedures

 

No Hitting Policy

In the school’s efforts to minimise incidents of bullying it must be emphasised that any form of physical retaliation is unacceptable.  The disadvantages of hitting back are:

 

• It can lead to escalation of the situation
• It can cause further injury
• It can make it more difficult to establish who is at fault
• It encourages further violence
• It undermines all efforts to develop self-control

 

Suggested Strategies for the Bullied Child

 Try to:

• Stay calm
• Stay with friends
• Tell someone – friend, janitor, teacher or parent

 

All incidents of bullying must be reported to the Head Teacher who will record them.  The Head Teacher will speak with those involved in the incident to try and resolve the situation by focussing on relationships based on mutual respect.  It is essential that a structure of support exists for the bullies in order to encourage them to move towards forming relationships based on respect.  If this does not result from counselling and discussion then the Head Teacher will arrange meetings with parents and other agencies.