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BUTE HOUSE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
ANTI-BULLYING POLICY
This policy applies equally to the Foundation Stage (Reception Class), Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 as taught at Bute House
The governors value the good relationships between all the members of the school community as fostered by the school, and expect that every allegation of bullying will be taken seriously. The governors consider that a child should be treated as being bullied simply because she perceives that she is. All staff, pupils and parents should be aware of the negative effects that bullying can have on individuals and the school in general, and should work towards ensuring that pupils can work in an environment without fear.
Bullying is unacceptable in this school and will not be tolerated. The school also recognises that it must take note of bullying perpetrated outside school which spills over into the school. The school will do what is reasonably practicable to eliminate any such bullying. Bute House Preparatory School aims to promote Emotional Literacy, defined as people being able to ‘recognise, understand, handle and appropriately express their emotions’ (Sharp, 2001). We therefore take a strong stance against bullying of any type, since it indicates a lack of appreciation for the feelings of others. Bullying will not be tolerated and will be addressed. Bullying can cause deep distress, to the extent of victims refusing to attend school or even, in extreme cases, attempting or committing suicide.
AIMS
- to ensure that children learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment,
without fear of being bullied
- to demonstrate that the school takes bullying seriously and that it will
not be tolerated
- to take measures to prevent all forms of bullying in the school and
during off-site activities
- to support everyone in actions to identify and protect those who might be bullied
- to demonstrate to all that the safety and happiness of pupils is paramount
- to promote an environment where children feel that they can trust and tell adults
if bullying is taking place
- to promote positive attitudes in pupils (including conflict management training)
Bute House Definition of Bullying
Bullying is persistent, deliberately hurtful behaviour, whether physical, verbal, cyber or psychological, repeated over a period of time, when it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves. It has been defined in the “Bully Book” by the children themselves in words they understand.
- it involves deliberate aggression, unequal power relationships
- is persistent
- results in pain and distress.
(DCSF document, Safe to Learn – Embedding Anti-bullying Work in Schools)
What is Bullying?
Bullying can be:
- Emotional – being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting, eg hiding books,
threatening gestures
- Related to disability
- Physical – pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
- Racial and Religious– racial or religious taunts, graffiti, gestures
- Sexual/sexist/homophobic
- Cyber – email and internet chat room misuse, mobile phone threats by
text messaging and calls, photograph misuse
- Verbal – name calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
- Cultural
Bullying of young carers or looked-after children, or otherwise linked to home circumstances
Children may be made vulnerable to bullying by the fact that they provide care to someone in their family with an illness, disability, mental health or substance-misuse problem. Young carers may be taking on practical and emotional caring responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult. Research has highlighted the difficulties young carers face, including risks of ill-health, stress and tiredness, especially when they care through the night. Many feel bullied or isolated. Children in care may also be vulnerable to bullying for a variety of reasons, such as their not living with their birth parents or because they have fallen behind in their studies.
Some pupils are heavily influenced by their communities or homes where bullying and abuse may be common. Some bullying at school may arise from trauma or instability at home related to issues of domestic violence or bereavement, or from the experience of being part of a refugee family. Siblings of vulnerable children may themselves be the subject of bullying by association.
Cyber Bullying
Bullying by mobile phone or the internet can have an impact at school, even if it originates at home.
Parents will be offered training and support so that they can be aware of the issues. They will be made aware of the school’s policy and also that their child’s school e-communications are monitored by the school. E-mail access within school will only be given to certain groups as part of a programme of study and will be withdrawn at the end of that unit of study.
Teachers will be given training about the risks of bullying through new and changing technologies and will be vigilant.
All e-communications used as part of school activities are monitored and pupils are made aware of this.
Children may not have mobile phones in school or on outings and residential trips.
Phones must be left each morning in the office.
Internet blocking technologies are regularly reviewed and updated and harmful sites blocked
Official guidance is taken into account and appropriate changes implemented.
Teachers must teach safe internet use and strictly apply all school policies.
Children should understand that they must tell an adult if they are being bullied in these ways, that they should not delete any bullying messages or texts but never to respond to these.
Signs and Symptons
A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and they should investigate if a child:
- is unwilling to go to school
- becomes withdrawn, anxious or lacking in confidence
- starts stammering
- attempts or threatens self harm
- cries herself to sleep at night or has nightmares/ bedwetting
- regularly feels ill in the morning
- begins to do poorly in school work
- comes home with clothes torn or books damaged
- has possessions go missing
- has unexplained cuts and bruises
- stops eating
- frightened to say what is wrong
- is frightened of walking to or from school
- changes her usual routine
All staff should be aware of these possibilities and report promptly any suspicions of bullying to the appropriate person.
Pupils will be told always to report incidents of bullying.
Dealing with incidents
- if bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be investigated and dealt with
immediately by the teacher approached
- if a racial element to the bullying is suspected the Head/ Deputy Head must be
informed immediately
- the teacher will record the details of the incident on the Bullying
Report Form and inform the relevant senior staff
- the Bullying Report Form will be kept in the Pastoral Care file on teacherlink.
- all the parties will be interviewed and a record made
- staff teaching the bullied pupil and the form teacher will be informed
- the appropriate strategy and plan of action to combat the bullying will be decided
- the implementation of the strategy will be overseen
- parents will be kept informed by the relevant staff
- any sanctions will be determined by the Head
Responsibilities
Governing Body
The governors will liaise with the Head and Head of Pastoral Care over all anti-bullying strategies, and be made aware of individual cases where appropriate.
The governing body will discuss, review and endorse agreed strategies and will discuss the Head’s report on the working of this policy.
The Head
The Head has a legal duty under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to draw up procedures to prevent bullying amongst pupils.
The Head will:
- ensure that all staff have an opportunity of discussing strategies and
review them regularly
- determine the strategies and procedures
- discuss development of the strategies with the Senior Management Team
- ensure appropriate training is available
- ensure that the procedures are brought to the attention of all staff, volunteers,
parents and pupils
- report to the governing body.
Head of Pastoral Care will:
- be responsible for the day-to-day management of the policy and systems
- ensure that there are positive strategies and procedures in place to help
both the bullied and bullies
- keep the Head informed of incidents
- refer and liase with inter agency working groups if necessary
- arrange relevant pupil training
- with the Head, determine how best to involve parents in the solution of
individual problems
- ensure proper record keeping
Heads of Department will:
- be responsible for ensuring that the school’s positive strategies are put into practice
- know the school’s procedure and deal with any incidents that are reported
Form Teachers will:
- be responsible for liaising with the Head of Pastoral Care over all incidents
involving pupils in their forms
- be involved in any agreed strategy to achieve a solution
- teach the anti-bullying programme in the PSHE and Citizenship courses
- encourage children to consider, and discuss the Bute House Bully Book contained in the homework diaries. Bi annually to hold discussions with the pupils in order that the Bully Book can be revised and be relevant to all.
All Staff and volunteers will:
- know and follow all relevant policies and procedures
- keep clear records on the “Record of incidents of bullying” form
- be observant and talk to pupils
- deal with incidents according to the policy
- never let any incidence of bullying pass by unreported, whether on-site or
during an off-site activity
- take action to reduce the risk of bullying at all times and in places where
is most likely
- will discuss from time to time where extra staff might be needed
Anti-Bullying Education in the Curriculum
The school will raise the awareness of the anti-social nature of bullying through a Citizenship programme, school assemblies, the school council, use of form time and in the curriculum as appropriate.
The Head of Pastoral Care is responsible for initiating and developing an anti-bullying programme as part of the PSHE and Citizenship course
Heads of Department are responsible for introducing anti-bullying material in their programmes of study as appropriate.
Changing the attitudes and behaviour of bullies will play a major part in the strategies used by the school. Children’s Emotional Literacy is developed by teaching them a wide vocabulary of words for emotions. We believe that this makes them better able to express their feelings, helping them to resist attempts at bullying. We also consider that being able to understand and express emotions reduces conflict between children and makes them less inclined to misinterpret others’ actions, which can be a factor in bullying.
Support
Bullied Pupils
Staff who deal with pupils who have been bullied must always offer reassurance. Pupils who have been bullied will be given support.
Bullies
It is recognised that support must also be given to the perpetrator. Changing the attitude and behaviour of bullies will be part of the responsibility of the positive procedures used by the school. However, the school recognises that sanctions will also have to be used against bullies.
Where pupils do not respond to preventative strategies to combat bullying, tougher action will be taken to deal with persistent and violent bullying. Sanctions might include:
- Removal from the group (in class)
- Withdrawal of break and lunchtime privileges
- Withholding participation in any school trip or sports events that are not an essential part of the curriculum
It also includes a fixed term and permanent exclusion from school.
An exclusion would only be considered in a case of extreme and continuing bad behaviour, bullying, sexual harassment etc Any exclusion for even a short period would be discussed and agreed by the Chairman of Governors and the Head.
Involvement of Parents
Parents, as well as all staff and pupils, should know that the school will not tolerate bullying, and takes a positive, active approach to educating pupils to combat it. Parents will be informed of the policy and procedures.
Parents of pupils who are being bullied and parents of the bullies will be involved in the solution to the problem as appropriate.
Involvement of Pupils/Students
Pupils will be involved in the positive strategies through both the school council and form groups. Pupils will have an input into the anti-bullying strategy.
A major part of the strategy will consist of educating pupils in how to cope with bullying.
Pupils must know to whom they should go if they are being bullied or if they are concerned about another child.
Strategies for Dealing with Bullying
Strategies are considered according to the circumstances but take into account the DfES non-statutory guidance Bullying – Don’t Suffer in Silence – An Anti-Bullying Pack for Schools (64/2000). All the children concerned should be fully involved in the discussions leading up to the solution and should not be left feeling isolated. Honest group discussions that involve both bullied and bully with other children of their choice attendant and encouraged to participate, help the children to resolve the matter themselves with support and vigilance from the staff and is the most effective way. Parents will need to be kept fully informed.
Reporting and Recording
All incidents must be reported and recorded in full and the records kept in the central file. Reports of bullying will be logged by the form teachers. The forms are kept on teacherlink in the pastoral care folder. The incidents will be updated and the names of pupils and staff who are involved will be written out in full and not abbreviated. This record of bullying will enable patterns to be identified.
Staff Training
The school will arrange for a regular programme of staff development, which will include child protection and anti-bullying strategies.
This will include training for support staff as well as teachers.
Monitoring and Review
The Head and the SMT will consider the reports to determine what can be learned from the incidents and how they were handled, with a view to improving the school’s strategies. The reports will also enable patterns to be identified.
The Head will report to the governing body.
Reviewed January 2009, May 2009 Sept 2009, Jan 2010
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