Definition
Bullying can be described as being 'a deliberate act done to cause distress solely in order to give a feeling of power, status or other gratification to the bully. It can range from ostracising, name-calling, teasing, threats and extortion, through to physical assault on persons and/or their property. It can be an unresolved single frightening incident which casts a shadow over a child's life, or a series of such incidents.' They include racial, religious, cultural, sexual/sexist, homophobic, special educational needs and disability and cyber bullying and can cause serious psychological damage.
At The Daiglen School staff, parents and children work together to create a happy, caring, learning environment. Bullying, either verbal, physical or indirect will not be tolerated. It is everyone's responsibility to aim to prevent occurrences of bullying and to deal with any incidents quickly and effectively. Daiglen School is a small , happy school with a very good staff/pupil ratio. We should not, however, allow this to blind us to the fact that incidents of bullying do take place in all schools and that they always require immediate, firm yet sympathetic action.
Consequently, the governors have approved this policy.
Bullying can be brought to the attention of staff either by the victim(s), their friend(s), their parent(s) or other interested people.
Strategy for dealing with bullying
The following is a list of actions available to staff depending on the perceived seriousness of the situation. The emphasis is always on a caring, listening approach as bullies are often victims too – that is why they bully.
- Discussions at length with the victim. This will require patience and understanding. Remember – Listen, believe, act
- Identify the bully/bullies. Obtain witnesses if possible. Advise the Head Teacher or Head of Pastoral Care, who will ensure that the bullying is recorded in the Serious Incident book
- Discussions with the bully. Confront them with the details and ask them to tell the truth about the situation/incident. Make it clear that bullying is not acceptable at Daiglen.
- If they own up then follow the procedure outlined below and in the Behaviour Policy
- If they do not own up, investigate further. If it is clear that they are lying, continue with the procedure. Children usually own up if presented with all the facts
- Separate discussions with parents of bully and victim
- Sanctions for the bully may include withdrawal from favoured activities, loss of playtimes, exclusion from school during lunchtimes, exclusion from school, depending on the perceived severity of the incident(s)
- Continue monitoring the situation by observing at playtimes/lunchtimes and having discussions with victim to ensure no repetition (If there is any repetition, this should also be recorded in the Serious Incident book)
- As the behaviour of the bully (hopefully) improves, then favoured activities etc can be reinstated, and the child should be praised for good behaviour. This will rebuild the child's self-esteem, which may have been damaged after being caught bullying, or could have been low anyway, hence the bullying
In order to identify incidents of bullying and the identities of bullies, at The Daiglen School we have agreed to carry out the following strategies:
- All staff watch for early signs of distress in pupils
- All staff listen, believe, act
- PSHCE lessons regularly incorporate discussions on how pupils can be constructive in adopting anti-bullying strategies.
- Whole school assemblies provide an opportunity to encourage positive behaviour and to reinforce school rules regarding bullying as incidents arise.
- Other educational elements, for example projects, drama, stories, literature, historical events, current affairs etc. are also used.
- Staff are alerted to potential problems via the staff room notice board and are required to be extra vigilant during break times. It is important that those on duty move around the playground, regularly checking any places which are not in the direct line of sight (behind Y2 classroom, between Y1 and Reception classes and to the side of the dining room). Children are taught to ask permission before going to the toilet so that staff on duty are aware of who is inside the building.
Each term, or when incidents occur, class teachers will discuss bullying and reinforce the following strategies:
a) Remember that your silence is the bully's greatest weapon.
b) Tell yourself that you do not deserve to be bullied and that it is wrong.
c) Be proud of who you are. It is good to be individual.
d) Try not to show that you are upset. It is hard, but a bully thrives on
someone's fear.
e) Stay with a group of friends/people. There is safety in numbers.
f) Be assertive – shout "No!". Walk confidently away. Go straight to a teacher or member of staff.
g) Fighting back may make things worse.
h) Generally it is best to tell an adult you trust straight away. You will get immediate support.
i) Teachers will take you seriously and will deal with the bullies in a way which will end the bullying and will not make things worse for you.
What do you do if You Know Someone Is Being Bullied?
a) Take action! Watching and doing nothing looks as if you are on the
side of the bully. It makes the victim feel more unhappy and on their
own.
b) If you feel you cannot get involved, tell an adult immediately. Teachers will deal with the bully without getting you into trouble.
c) Do not be, or pretend to be, friends with a bully.
Revised September 2011 MB