Anti-bullying

Hoole St Michael will not tolerate any form of bullying.

We aim to promote positive behaviour and to provide working guidelines to staff to meet required standards in:

• preventing bullying;
• dealing with bullying;
• providing information for pupils and parents.

Values Statement

Hoole St Michael CE Primary School promotes an ethos where:

• everyone can learn and work in a safe, caring and respectful environment.
• independence is valued and individuals can flourish without fear. pupils are encouraged to develop self-confidence, self-discipline and high self-esteem
• pupils and staff are encouraged to develop a caring attitude towards each other and the wider community.
• positive behaviour is promoted and success is celebrated.
• pupils and staff are encouraged to participate in decision making and school life.

Committing the School to Action

Hoole St Michael CE Primary School recognizes

• the hurt that bullying causes.
• takes all reasonable steps to protect its pupils from bullying.
• provides victims with appropriate care.
• plans to help bullies change their behaviour

Preventing Bullying – A Whole School Approach

1.1 The curriculum

1.2 Monitoring of potentially vulnerable pupils/groups of pupils including new pupils, pupils who are visibly different and those in transition between the primary and secondary departments

1.3 Encouraging a ‘telling’ environment

1.4 Awareness-raising

1.5 Staff training

1.6 Keeping up to date with available resources/literature

 

1.1 Anti-bullying work through the curriculum

The subject of bullying is discussed and explored within the curriculum in a number of areas:

• Personal and Social Education
• Health Education
• Drama
• Literacy
• Circle Time
• Assembly

1.2 Monitoring of potentially vulnerable pupils/ groups of pupils.

Although not inevitably victims of bullying, it is important to recognise that the transition from Primary to Secondary and the move of a single pupil to a new school can be described as a ‘predictable crisis’,  therefore, staff should be alert to the experiences of pupils in this situation. Equally, “vulnerability isn’t always visible to adults. The victim (of bullying) may look like any other child” and staff should be alert to the behaviour of ‘ordinary’ pupils as well as those who are different. It is important to recognise here that the ‘vulnerable’ pupil can also be the one exhibiting bullying behaviour.

The Headteacher will:

• interview any new pupil and following this, a record of the interview is forwarded to the class teacher who conducts an interview at a later date if this is deemed necessary.
• An informal meeting is always held between the class teacher and any new pupil within the first week of their arrival in school.
• New pupils continue to be monitored throughout the session.

Pupils who are visibly different – due to the nature of the school these pupils are known to staff and all staff are vigilant concerning these pupils.

Welfare assistants also play a large part in monitoring pupil behaviour, and inform class teachers of any concerns there may be. There is close dialogue between all teachers, teaching assistants and welfare assistants regarding any pupils who give cause for concern. Any member of staff who feels they are the subject of bullying behaviour may report this using the Staff Grievance Procedure.

1.3 Encouraging a ‘telling’ environment

“Silence and secrecy nurture bullying.”Young people will not tell for a variety of reasons. Mainly they are worried about the subsequent reaction of the bully. They are naturally fearful of retribution and are also often confused in their attitude towards the bully, who can be a dynamic, fun and attractive classmate. Once pupils know that telling will result in a fair resolution they will trust adults with information about bad behaviour. It is important that the traditional “tale telling” myth is destroyed. A telling environment is one where all members recognise that they have responsibilities to the other members in the group and if they are aware of bullying they have a duty to tell. Hoole St Michael CE Primary School is committed to the development of a safe environment where pupils can ‘tell’ without fear of reprisal.

Staff, parents and pupils should promote the key message that:

• If you are being bullied, tell someone.
• Don’t suffer in silence. If you see someone being bullied, tell a teacher immediately.
• Don’t think it’s OK to be a ‘bystander’ – this can give the impression that bullying is an acceptable form of behaviour.
• As an alternative to reporting a bullying concern directly to a member of staff, pupils may place their concern in a listening box which will be placed around school. Parents and pupils should note that this could not be done anonymously; however, all information received will be treated sensitively.

Parents/carers and pupils will be given copies of the relevant anti-bullying literature at the start of each session or upon entry in to the school.

1.4. Awareness Raising – in Personal and Social Education, through the School Council and through Assemblies issues relating to bullying are raised.

Continued consideration will be given to any opportunity that arises to promote the anti-bullying message.

1.5. Staff Training

Staff are encouraged to identify their training and development needs, and with respect to this policy, staff will be given the opportunity to access further professional development opportunities.

2. Investigating, dealing with, recording and monitoring incidents of bullying.

Many incidents of bullying are resolved quickly and with limited staff intervention, however, there are other incidents of bullying which are more complex and require greater expertise and more time availability. The latter type of bullying is more than likely to be dealt with by the Headteacher, whereas it may be appropriate for the class teacher to deal with the former.

Occasionally, help may be sought from professionals out of the school setting e.g. the school nurse, the school doctor, psychological services.

The main aims of intervention in an alleged or actual incident of bullying are to:

• make the victim feel safe; and
• to encourage better behaviour from the bullies, observers and/or colluders

All incidents must be recorded and monitoring must take place within a two-week period. In cases of persistent bullying, monitoring will continue throughout the session. Parents/carers will be informed and involved at as early a stage as appropriate in order to foster and strengthen a co-operative ethos. This will be done by telephone or letter and parents may be asked to make an appointment to come into school to meet with the designated member of staff.

Parents/carers will be:

• told about the steps which will be taken to try to resolve the incident
• given progress reports.
• advised of disciplinary action to be taken (if any).

Designated members of staff for dealing with alleged or actual incidents of bullying in the school are:

Mrs J Price (Headteacher)

Mrs S Cookson (Deputy Headteacher)

Mrs A Mesghali (SENDCo)

All staff should follow the five key points:

• never ignore suspected bullying.
• don’t make premature assumptions.
• listen carefully to all accounts – several pupils saying the same thing does not mean they are all telling the truth.
• adopt a problem solving approach which moves pupils on from justifying themselves.
• follow-up repeatedly, checking bullying has not resumed.

If an alleged or actual incident is reported, the member of staff should try to establish:

• who is involved
• the nature of the bullying
• the extent of the bullying
• where it was taking place
• the effect(s) on the person(s) being bullied
• the nature of the relationship between the alleged bully and the pupil(s) experiencing bullying
• if there were any triggers to the behaviour

This should then be discussed with the designated member of staff who will decide what measures should be taken to try to resolve the difficulty.

Disciplinary steps will only be taken if the bullying is persistent and the attitude and behaviour of the perpetrator(s) does not change.

3. Bullying in the wider community

The school cannot be held responsible for bullying which takes place off the school premises, on the or outside of school activities. The school recognises, however, that bullying which takes place outside the school often happens in school, too and, therefore, will give advice on how to prevent this happening. The school would stress, of course, the role parents play in trying to ensure the safety of their child between home and school.

STRATEGIES

1. We will use our behaviour policy effectively to promote good behaviour so that there is an ethos where bullying is unacceptable.
2. Every allegation of bullying will be investigated and followed up.
3. All will be expected to be vigilant and to intervene immediately and effectively if any bullying is observed or reported.
4. Learners will be encouraged to report bullying and when they do so, they will be listened to and taken seriously.
5. Children’s understanding of bullying, what to do if they are being bullied, or observe bullying will be highlighted in PSHE lessons throughout the year and especially during the autumn term ‘Anti-bullying’ week.
6. Any children who are causing concern will be discussed at staff meetings (weekly), teaching assistant meetings (monthly) and welfare meetings (half-termly) to ensure that all staff know the relevant issues and strategies that have been put into place. Serious cases will be brought to the attention of all staff immediately.
7. Teachers will initially use the ‘restorative conference’ approach when a concern is brought to their attention.
8. Welfare staff will be given a book. Any children/behaviour causing concern at lunchtime will be noted in the book and brought to the attention of the relevant class teacher and if necessary, a member of the senior management team.
9. Any victim of bullying will be well-protected immediately and in the future.
10. Any allegations of bullying (from a parent, child or member of staff) will be reported to the headteacher verbally and on a concern form. A chronology will be kept.
11. We will use the school’s discipline and rewards strategy to reinforce this anti-bullying policy.
12. The parents of all concerned will be informed and involved in any reported incident and will be expected to support this school policy. Parents of children who have been bullying others will meet the headteacher and class teacher to discuss the issues, sanctions and strategies for improving behaviour which need to be put into place.