Anti-Bullying Policy

South Wonston Primary School

Anti-Bullying Policy

‘Together, we nurture, inspire, challenge and achieve’

Rationale

At South Wonston Primary School we are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all our pupils so they can learn in a happy and secure atmosphere. We expect everyone to listen and be polite to one another, to think of others and to respect one another and each other’s property. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell an adult in school and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff.

Objectives:

• All staff, governors, pupils & parents should have a shared understanding of bullying

• Bullying is unacceptable and will not be tolerated

• Clear procedures for reporting bullying should be understood and followed to ensure incidents can be dealt with swiftly

• All staff will follow the anti-bullying procedures to provide a consistent response to any bullying incidents which occur

Definition of bullying:

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

Bullying is:

• Deliberately hurtful behaviour repeated often over a period of time
• Behaviour which it is difficult for the victim to defend themselves against because

they do not have the necessary skills, confidence or resources

Bullying can take various forms and can be carried out by adults or children. It can include:

• Physical – pushing, hitting, kicking, taking other’s belongings, damaging other’s belongings
• Verbal – name calling, teasing, insulting, making offensive remarks which can be of a discriminatory nature e.g. racial, sexual etc.
• Emotional – being unfriendly, tormenting, excluding, rumour spreading Cyber – misuse of email/internet chat rooms, mobile threats by texting & calls

Prevention

Strategies for the prevention of bullying will include:

• curriculum focus work including PSHE lessons & circle time activities to promote positive friendships
• assemblies focusing on values and beliefs
• the development of an open culture and problem solving ethos where children are encouraged to talk through issues and to find solutions together
• provision of activities and supervision at lunch and playtimes to minimise inappropriate behaviour
• timetabled support provided by trained ELSAs for children with concerns
• mixing of age groups to build friendships between younger and older children where appropriate in the form of buddy morning activities; older children reading to younger children and running activities
• Yr 5 & 6 Play leaders (SWAT - South Wonston Activity Team)
• buddy system between year groups
• discussions in School Council

The Role of parents

Parents can play an important role in detecting bullying. A child may indicate that he/she is being bullied through various behaviours such as:

• Frightened of walking to or from school
• Unwilling to go to school • Performance in school begins to deteriorate
• Becomes withdrawn or unhappy
• Regularly has possessions which “go missing”
• Becomes distressed, cries easily or stops eating
• Has nightmares or begins bed wetting • Becomes uncharacteristically disruptive or aggressive
• Is frightened to say what’s wrong

These signs could always indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered as one possibility and parents are encouraged to inform the school as soon as possible in these circumstances. Parents have a responsibility to support the school’s anti bullying policy and to actively encourage their children to report issues as they happen directly

Summary

All reports of bullying will be taken seriously and will be fully investigated. Appropriate measures will be taken to reassure and support the victim and modify the behaviour and /or attitude of the bully.

Policy Approved by Governors: 29/11/17

Next review : November 2020