WOODFORD GREEN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

ANTI BULLYING POLICY

 

The governing body and staff of the school are totally opposed to bullying. Bullying is wrong and damages children. The aim of this policy is to provide pupils with a safe and secure working environment.

 

It is recognised that all schools are likely to have a problem with bullying at some time. This school regards bullying as particularly serious and firm action will always be taken against it.

 

This policy aims to produce a consistent response by the school to any bullying incidents that may take place.

 

Procedure

 

Recognising the Signs of Bullying

 

Bullying is deliberately harmful behaviour over a period of time. Staff will watch out for the signs and symptoms of the following forms of bullying:

 

·       racial

·       religious

·       cultural

·       sexual or sexist

·       homophobic

·       disability

·       physical

·       verbal

·       indirect, eg spreading rumours or social exclusion

·       misuse of mobile phones or Internet message boards and chat rooms.

 

Bullying can cause serious psychological damage and even drive victims to consider or commit suicide.

 

The school recognises that any pupil can be bullied but certain factors that can make bullying more likely are:

 

·       a lack of close friends in the school

·       shyness

·       race, religion, sexual orientation or social class

·       a disability or some other obvious difference, eg stammering

 

Staff will suspect bullying is occurring if a pupil:

 

·       becomes withdrawn and anxious

·       shows a deterioration in his or her work

·       has spurious illnesses

·       persistently is reluctant to come to school

·       prefers to stay with adults.

 

 

Preventing Bullying

 

·       The school will take every opportunity to demonstrate to pupils, through assemblies, the curriculum and by example, that it is totally opposed to bullying.

·       Staff will not ignore bullying or suspected bullying. All school staff will, wherever possible, intervene to prevent bullying incidents from taking place.

·       The school will encourage pupils to report any incidents of bullying to a teacher or other adult at school.

·       Staff will praise and encourage pupils when they show kindness and consideration to others.

 

 

Dealing with Bullying Incidents

 

Any incidents of bullying will be taken seriously and dealt with as quickly as possible. Staff will do all they can to support the victims of bullying and make it clear to the bully that this behaviour is not acceptable.

 

In dealing with bullying, school staff will:

 

·       not ignore it

·       not make premature assumptions

·       listen to all accounts of the incidents

·       adopt a problem-solving approach that encourages pupils to find solutions rather than simply justify themselves

·       make regular follow-up checks to ensure that bullying has not resumed.

 

 

If a Pupil is bullied staff who receive a report of a bullying incident from a pupil will:

 

·       listen to the pupil’s account of the incident

·       reassure the pupil that reporting the bullying incident was the right thing to do

·       make it clear to the pupil that he or she is not to blame for what has happened

·       make a note of what the pupil says

·       explain that the pupil should report any further incidents to a teacher or other member of staff immediately.

 

Staff will ask the pupil:

·       what has happened

·       how often it has happened

·       who was involved

·       where it happened

·       who saw what happened

·       what he or she has done about it already.

 

 

 

Advice to Pupils

 

The school will advise pupils who are caught up in bullying incidents to:

 

·       stay calm and look as confident as possible

·       be firm and clear, look the bully in the eye and tell them to stop

·       get away from the situation as quickly as possible

·       immediately tell an adult what has happened.

 

Helping the Bullies to Change

 

Staff will spend time to help pupils who have bullied others to change their behaviour.

If a pupil is bullying others, staff will:

 

·       talk to the pupil and explain that bullying is wrong and makes others unhappy

·       discuss with the pupil how to join in with others without bullying

·       talk to the pupil about how things are going at school, his or her progress and friends

·       give the pupil lots of praise and encouragement when he or she is being kind and considerate to others.

 

 

Dealing with Serious Bullying

 

If the preventative measures and support strategies do not succeed, serious

bullying will be dealt with under the school’s discipline policy. The bully may:

 

·       be removed from the group

·       lose break or lunchtime privileges

·       be banned from a school trip or sports event where these are not an essential part of the curriculum

·       be excluded for a fixed period or n the most serious and persistent cases, permanently

 

Recording Incidents

 

All incidents of confirmed bullying will be recorded in the relevant pupils’ files.

 

Co-operating with Parents and Carers

 

The school will work with parents in dealing with bullying. Bullying in school is everyone’s problem. All staff, pupils and parents should be aware that bullying exists and share a commitment to combat it and to make the school a happier place for everyone.

Parents, carers and families are often the first to detect signs of bullying. Common

physical symptoms include headaches, stomach aches, anxiety and irritability.

The school will encourage parents who suspect that a child is bullying or being bullied to immediately contact the school and make an appointment to see the child’s teacher as soon as possible.