Anti-bullying Policy Anti-bullying Policy Page | 1 Document Control Organisation Falinge Park High School Title Anti-Bullying Policy Author G Skerrow Filename Owner G Skerrow Subject Anti-Bullying Review date December 2015 Revision History Revision Revisor Previous Description of Revision Date Version November G. Skerrow In consultation with J. Turrell and 2012 Heads of community February G Skerrow 2013 December G Skerrow 2014 Document Approvals This document requires the following approvals: Approval Sought From Name Date Governors Pupil & Curriculum December 2014 Document Distribution This document will be distributed to: Individual/Group Job Title/Group Type Distribution Date All Staff All Titles/Groups Anti-bullying Policy Page | 2 Table of Contents Falinge Park High School Anti–Bullying Policy September 2014 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 6 A DEFINITION OF BULLYING 6 CONSULTATION PROCESS 6 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER POLICIES 6 STATEMENT OF THE INTENT 7 THE AIM OF THE POLICY 7 THE OBJECTIVES OF OUR POLICY 8 POLICY STATEMENT 8 HOW CAN WE RECOGNISE BULLYING? 9 WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF BULLYING? 9 MOST COMMON EFFECTS 9 THE LEGAL AND NATIONAL CONTEXT 10 PREVENTATIVE ACTION 10 Action 11 Outcomes 11 Support 12 THE CURRICULUM 12 Anti-bullying Policy Page | 3 MONITORING, EVALUTION AND REVIEW 12 COLLATION AND USEAGE OF DATA 13 GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNITY COORDINATORS 14 GUIDELINES FOR TEACHERS 15 DEALING WITH BULLIES 15 The victim 15 The perpetrator 15 The witness/onlooker 16 APPENDIX 1 16 COMBATING BULLYING 16 GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS What is bullying? 17 What should I do if my child is being bullied? 18 Who should I contact? 18 What will happen then? 18 What will this involve? 18 GUIDELINES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Advice to students 19 Behaviour we expect from our students 20 APPENDIX 2 CYBERBULLYING 21 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER POLICIES 21 WHAT IS CYBERBULLYING 24/7 and the invasion of personal space 21 The audience 21 People who cyberbully may attempt to stay anonymous 21 The profile of the perpetrator and target Instances in which cyberbullying is unintentional 21 Cyberbullying and evidence 21 Cyberbullying and the law 21 21 Anti-bullying Policy Page | 4 INVESTIGATING INCIDENTS 23 WORKING WITH THE PERPERRATOR AND SANCTIONS 23 The impact on the victim 23 The motivation of the perpetrator 23 SANTIONS OF CYBERBULLYING 24 ADVISING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 24 ADVISING PARENTS AND CARERS 25 APPENDIX 3 USEFUL RESOURCES/ORGANISATIONS OFFERING 26 SUPPORT APPENDIX 4 BULLYING – A CHARTER FOR ACTION 29 ROCHDALE SCHOOL SERVICES 31 Anti-bullying Policy Page | 5 INTRODUCTION The aim of our anti-bullying policy is to ensure that all pupils learn in a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. Bullying is anti-social behaviour and affects everyone; it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Bullying is not an inevitable part of school life or a necessary part of growing up and it rarely sorts itself out. No one group, whether staff or pupil, should have to accept this type of behaviour. Only when all issues of bullying are addressed, will a child best be able to benefit from the opportunities at the school. A DEFINITION OF BULLYING Bullying can be described as: “Behaviour by an individual or group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally” ‘Preventing and Tackling Bullying’, DFE 2011 CONSULTATION PROCESS This policy was created in consultation with Governors, staff, students and parents. Consultation with students takes place on a yearly basis through focused work during National Anti-Bullying week and the work through the Student Council. A survey is annually collated within the information used to direct the correct support and implement appropriate strategies. All Staff have taken part as part of their continual professional development in Anti-bullying training and their views have helped inform this policy. We believe that it is crucial to engage students in the Anti-Bullying process to ensure it is fully successful. They have participated in various activities which have informed and helped in developing this policy. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER POLICIES This should be considered in connection with the following policies: Behaviour policy The Child Protection Policy E-Safety guidance SEN Policy Acceptable usage Policy Equalities Policy Anti-bullying Policy Page | 6 STATEMENT OF INTENT. Our school believes that: Bullying, including cyber bullying, is undesirable and unacceptable. Bullying, including cyber bullying, is a problem to which solutions can be found. Seeking help and openness are regarded as signs of strength not weakness. All members of our community will be listened to and taken seriously. Everyone has the right to enjoy and achieve in an atmosphere that is free from fear. All of us have a responsibility to ensure that we do not abuse or bully others. Children and young people should talk to an adult if they are worried about bullying, including cyber bullying, and have a right to expect that their concerns will be listened to and treated seriously. Children and young people should be involved in decision-making about matters that concern them. We all have a duty to work together to protect vulnerable individuals from bullying, including cyber bullying, and other forms of abuse. We tackle bullying, including cyber bullying, best by encouraging an environment where individuality is celebrated and individuals can develop without fear. (“Schools which excel at tackling bullying have created an ethos of good behaviour where pupils treat one another and the school staff with respect because they know that this is the right way to behave.” DFE ‘Preventing and Tackling Bullying’) THE AIM OF OUR POLICY. This policy sets out a range of proactive and reactive strategies and intervention systems which are in place: To assist in creating an ethos in which attending Falinge Park High School is a positive experience for all members of our community. To make it clear that all forms of bullying, including cyber bullying, are unacceptable at Falinge Park High School. Prevent, de-escalate and/or stop continuation of harmful behaviour To enable everyone to feel safe while at Falinge Park High School and encourage pupils/children/young people to report incidents of bullying, including cyber bullying. To deal with each incident of bullying, including cyber bullying, as effectively as possible, taking into consideration the needs of all parties and of our community, and, as a result, to reduce the incidents of bullying. To support and protect victims of bullying and ensure they are listened to. To help and support children/young people displaying bullying behaviour to change their attitudes and understand why it needs to change. Anti-bullying Policy Page | 7 Apply appropriate consequences to the student/s causing the bullying behaviours and ensure they learn from the experience, in some cases through multi-agency support and/or using restorative justice techniques where applicable. To liaise with parents and other appropriate members of our community. To ensure all members of our community feel responsible for helping to reduce bullying. THE OBJECTIVES OF OUR POLICY. To maintain and develop effective listening systems for children, young people and staff within Falinge Park High School. To ensure all staff deal with incidents of bullying, including cyber bullying, effectively and promptly. To equip all staff with the skills and information necessary to deal with incidents of bullying. To involve all those from within the wider school setting/ community (e.g. midday supervisors, part-time staff/volunteers, partners) to deal effectively with, and if necessary referring, bullying, including cyber bullying, incidents. To communicate with parents and the wider school setting/ community, effectively on the subject of bullying. To acknowledge the key role of every staff member in dealing with incidents of bullying. To ensure that all incidents of bullying, including cyber bullying, are recorded and appropriate use is made of the information, including where appropriate, sharing it with relevant organisations. To promote emotional health and wellbeing across the whole school setting and for all members of our community to role-model this in all situations. POLICY STATEMENT Any form of bullying is unacceptable and every effort will be made to prevent it occurring. In Implementing this policy the school will: Follow the schools procedures on bullying Obtain written statements from all concerned Enlist the expertise of Community Coordinators and community Tutors Use the school’s system of sanctions Provide support and counselling for the bullied and the perpetrator Where appropriate, use restorative justice methodology, to resolve the issue/s. Keep appropriate records Anti-bullying Policy Page | 8 Many pupils experience bullying at some time and it the responsibility of all staff to deal with it, as a matter of priority when it occurs or, if necessary, to seek advice and support from others, i.e. the child’s tutor, community coordinator, or S.L.T HOW CAN WE RECOGNISE BULLYING? Identifying bullying is not easy and the following messages should be considered when determining whether a situation is a bullying one: perceptions of the victim – their feelings and interpretation. those being bullied are not in a position to stop the process and it is up to those adults working with children & young people to recognise bullying and to respond. it is not usually as noticeable or obvious to others. it is the effect that is the key determining factor, not the action. it is a persistent situation, not isolated incidents. it has the intent to hurt or upset the victim. it is not limited to physical hurt. it can be social and/or psychological. *Aggressive or abusive behaviour targeted at someone with special needs maybe considered bullying even if it is not persistent because it is so difficult for the target to defend themselves.