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Anti Bullying

Anti Bullying Policy November 2014

 

LAKENHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

 

Statement of Intent

We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere.  Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school.  If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a TELLING school. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff.

 

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.

 

Bullying can be:

   Emotional      being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures)

Physical          pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence Racist       racial taunts, graffiti, gestures

Sexual             unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments Homophobic because of, or focussing on the issue of sexuality

Verbal              name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing Cyber     All areas of internet ,such as email & internet chat room misuse

Mobile threats by text messaging & calls

Misuse of associated technology , i.e. camera &video facilities

 

 

Why is it Important to Respond to Bullying?

Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.

 

At Lakenham Primary School we have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.

 

 

Objectives of this Policy

   All governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.

   All governors and teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.

 

   All pupils and parents should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.

   As a school we take bullying seriously.  Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.

Bullying will not be tolerated.

 

Signs and Symptoms

A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied.  All adults at Lakenham need to be aware of these possible signs and will investigate further if they notice that a child:

is frightened of walking to or from school doesn't want to go on the school / public bus begs to be driven to school

changes their usual routine

is unwilling to go to school (school phobic) begins to truant

becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence starts stammering

attempts or threatens suicide or runs away

cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares feels ill in the morning

begins to do poorly in school work

comes home with clothes torn or books damaged  has possessions which are damaged or " go missing" asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully) has dinner or other monies continually "lost"

has unexplained cuts or bruises

comes home starving (money / lunch has been stolen) becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable

is bullying other children or siblings stops eating

is frightened to say what's wrong

gives improbable excuses for any of the above is afraid to use the internet or mobile phone

is nervous & jumpy when a cyber message is received

 

These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying will be considered a possibility and will be investigated

 

Procedures

  1. Report bullying incidents to staff
  2. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff

 

  1. In serious cases parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem
  2. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted
  3. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly
  4. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour

 

Outcomes

 

  • 1) The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely Other consequences may take place.
  • 2) In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered
  • 3) If possible, the pupils will be reconciled
  • 4) After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take

 

Prevention

We will use a variety of methods for helping children to prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include:

writing a set of school rules signing a behaviour contract

writing stories or poems or drawing pictures about bullying

reading stories about bullying or having them read to a class or assembly making up role-plays

having discussions about bullying and why it matters

Discussions about the Rights of members of our community and our ongoing focus on the Rights Respecting School Award

 

 

HELP ORGANISATIONS:

Advisory Centre for Education (ACE)

 

 

0808 800 5793

Children's Legal Centre

0845 345 4345

KIDSCAPE Parents Helpline (Mon-Fri, 10-4)

0845 1 205 204

Parentline Plus

0808 800 2222

Youth Access Bullying Online

020 8772 9900

www.bullying.co.uk