Anti-Bullying Policy

East Wichel Community Primary School and Nursery

Anti-Bullying Policy 

Statement of Intent

At East Wichel Community Primary School & Nursery we are committed to providing a warm, caring and safe environment, enabling us “to shape aspirational, kind human beings who are equipped for life, passionate and able to make a positive difference in the world.”

Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our school. We take all incidents of bullying seriously. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect and pupils who are bullying others need to learn from and understand the impact and consequences of their behaviour.

We acknowledge that bullying does happen from time to time – indeed, it would unrealistic to claim that it does not. When bullying does occur, everyone should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively in accordance with our anti-bullying policy. We are a TELLING school. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff.

Aims and Objectives of this Policy

The aim of this policy is to try to prevent and deal with any behaviour deemed as bullying. We are committed to ensuring that the school community works together to create a happy, safe, caring and stimulating environment. We continually reinforce the importance of our school values of love, community and integrity.

Within East Wichel Primary School, we want:

• All children to feel safe to learn, play and enjoy the company of others.
• All children and adults to be treated fairly, with respect and dignity
• All adults to feel happy and safe in the workplace.
• Everyone to listen carefully to what children and adults have to say and treat all accounts with due seriousness.

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is any deliberate, hurtful, upsetting, frightening or threatening behaviour by an individual or a group towards other people with malicious intent. It is repeated over a period of time (remember STOP – it happens Several Times On Purpose).

Bullying can be:

• Emotional: unfriendly, excluding, tormenting, threatening gestures, ridicule, humiliation
• Verbal: name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, threats, teasing, making rude remarks, making fun of someone
• Physical: pushing, kicking, hitting, pinching, throwing stones, biting, spitting, punching, taking or hiding someone’s things
• Racist: racial taunts, gestures, making fun of cultural or religious background
• Sexual: unwanted physical contact
• Homophobic: focussing on the issue of sexuality

• Online/cyber: setting up ‘hate websites’, sending offensive text messages, emails and abusing the victims via their mobile phones
• Any unfavourable or negative comments, gestures or actions made to someone relating to their disability or special educational needs.

This is not a definitive list but suggests some of the signs and symptoms. These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be taken seriously and investigated as soon as possible.

Bullying is not:

It is important to understand that bullying is not the odd occasion of falling out with friends, name calling, arguments or when the occasional trick or joke is played on someone. Children sometimes fall out or say things because they are upset. When occasional problems of this kind arise it is not classed as bullying. It is an important part of children’s development to learn how to deal with situations of this kind to enable them to develop the social skills to repair relationships.

Where does bullying happen?

It can happen anywhere – in the classroom, in the corridor, in the toilets, in the hall, in the playground. Bullying may also happen on the way to and from school. In such cases, the Headteacher is empowered by law to deal with such incidents but must do so in accordance with the school’s policy.

We are concerned with our children’s conduct and welfare outside as well as inside school and we will do what we can to address any bullying issues that occur off the school premises. The following steps may be taken:

• Talk to the local Community Police Officer about problems on the streets
• Talk to the Head Teachers of other schools whose children may be involved in bullying off the premises
• Map out safe routes to school for children, linking them to the School Travel Plan
• Discuss coping strategies with parents
• Talk to the children about how to handle or avoid bullying outside the school premises

What can you do if you are being bullied?

We want everybody to feel confident to report bullying whenever and wherever it happens, and get the help they need to feel safe again. All pupils know that if they are experiencing bullying they should tell their teacher in the first instance. Should a pupil not feel confident in doing this our family support worker is available to speak to pupils or they may choose to use the school council representatives.  If someone is bullying you, it is important to remember that it is not your fault and there are people who can help you.

If you feel that you are a victim of bullying, it is essential that you inform a member of staff who you trust.  When you tell an adult about the bullying give them as many facts as you can (What? Who? Where? When? Why? How?).  If you are scared, ask a friend to go with you when you tell someone.

What can you do if you see someone else being bullied? (The role of the bystander)

Ignoring bullying is cowardly and unfair to the victim. Staying silent means the bully has won and gives them more power. You should try to help without putting yourself in danger; you should tell a member of staff as soon as possible or ask someone you trust about what to do.

Race equality/Inclusion Statement

East Wichel Community Primary & Nursery School is an inclusive school. We provide a secure, accepting, safe and stimulating environment where everyone is valued for who they are.  We have some children who have learning disabilities and/or communication difficulties. Everyone involved in the school is very aware that these children can be especially vulnerable to bullying and we are therefore particularly vigilant at all times.

High attaining, gifted or talented pupils can also be affected by bullying. Staff will treat this type of bullying as seriously and in the same way as any other type of bullying.

At East Wichel Primary school, we do not tolerate any for of racism, bullying or harassment. Staff aim to maximise the potential pf all our pupils through:

• Setting suitable learning challenges.
• Responding to children’s diverse needs.
• Overcoming potential barriers to learning.

We recognise that it is the responsibility of the entire school community to seek to provide equality of opportunity for all our children regardless of the culture, language, religion, ethnicity, ability, disability, gender, sexuality or social circumstance. 

Procedures for reporting and responding to bullying incidents

All staff will respond calmly and consistently to all allegations and incidents of bullying at the school. They will be taken seriously by all staff and dealt with impartially and promptly. All those involved will have the opportunity to be heard. Staff will protect and support all children involved whilst allegations and incidents are investigated and resolved.

Once an allegation of bullying has been made, a restorative justice approach will be followed.  This restorative justice chat should be recorded on the relevant form and this will then be kept in the behaviour log in the Headteacher’s office. During the restorative chat, each child will be given the opportunity to voice their version of events and this will be recorded on the form. Restorative justice is designed to empower the victims and to help the perpetrators understand the human consequences of their behaviour.

If this is something which continues then an investigation and a restorative conference will be held.

Sanctions

If an allegation of bullying is found to be substantiated, then the Headteacher must be informed and a meeting will be arranged with the Headteacher, the perpetrator and their parents.

Strategies for the prevention and reduction of bullying:

Whole school initiatives and proactive teaching strategies will be used throughout the school to develop a positive learning environment with the aim of reducing the opportunities for bullying to occur.

These can include:

• Clear and consistent implementation of the behaviour policy.
• Undertaking regular questionnaires and surveys to monitor the extent of bullying in the school and the effectiveness of the anti-bullying policy
• Producing a ‘child speak’ version of the policy for the children
• Making national anti-bullying week a high profile event each year – Rename this week “cool to be kind week”, with an emphasis on completing good deeds for other people.
• Awareness raising through regular anti-bullying assemblies
• (Personal, Health & Social Education) scheme of work from Reception to Year 6 used to support this policy
• Setting up of a circle of friends support network where a small group of children work alongside members of staff and develop different strategies for making friends and supporting other children.

Monitoring and evaluation of the policy

To ensure this policy is effective, it will be monitored and evaluated regularly.  Questionnaires completed by the whole school community, focus groups and bullying incident forms will be used to gauge the effectiveness of the policy.  Following an annual review any amendments will be made to the policy and everyone informed. An annual report will then be issued to governors and parents and the policy will be distributed to all parents via the school website.

Sources of further information, support and help:

There is a vast amount of information and guidance available about bullying that can provide a wide range of support and help. The following list is just a small selection of the support available that teachers, parents and children have found useful.

Reviewed November 2021