Anti-Bullying

DRUMSALLEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Anti-bullying Policy
Revised November 2011

Drumsallen Primary School Vision

At Drumsallen Primary School we aim to create a calm and caring community where learning and teaching can take place.

Each child will be encouraged to fulfil his/her intellectual, spiritual, physical, social and emotional potential. Central to the creation of this environment is a commitment to Christian values, the recognition of the worth and value of everyone and the cultivation of self-respect, so that everyone may accept his appropriate responsibilities and show respect for others and the environment.

At Drumsallen Primary School we Aim to:

  • provide a stimulating, balanced curriculum that allows all pupils to be motivated and interested so that they can succeed to their fullest potential.
  • foster a respect for the core values of truth, hard work, kindness and concern.
  • encourage new and existing leisure interests in order to develop the whole person.
  • prepare our pupils fully for the next stage of their lives, both academically and socially.
  • ensure that parents are fully involved in the education and social development of their child while in the school, through a constructive partnership.
  • develop independent learning, thinking and problem solving skills.
  • create meaningful and challenging learning environments that provide opportunities for students to learn by experiencing.
  • hold high expectations for all, recognizing that students learn in different ways and at different paces.
  • engage in a cycle of assessment, reflection and goal setting in order to support student achievement.

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    Anti Bullying Policy

    Aims
    At Drumsallen Primary School we aim to create a calm and caring community where learning and teaching can take place.

    We acknowledge that:
    “Children have the right to be protected from all forms of violence (physical and mental). They must be kept from harm and they must be given proper care by those looking after them.” (Article 19 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1992)

    1. we believe that all pupils have a right to learn free from intimidation and fear
    2. we recognise that the needs of the victim are paramount
    3. we make clear that we will not tolerate bullying behaviour
    4. we will take seriously all reported incidents of bullying behaviour and we will thoroughly investigate such incidents

    Our policy on bullying is supported by other school policies on child protection, pastoral care, special educational needs, e-safety and positive behaviour.

    Bullying Behaviour can be defined as:

    “Deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over time, where it may be difficult for the victim to defend him or herself”  (DENI, 1999, p.41)

     

    Bullying happens when one person or a group of people try to upset another person by saying nasty or hurtful things to him or her again and again.  Sometimes bullies hit or kick people or force them to hand over money; sometimes they tease them again and again.  The person who is being bullied finds it difficult to stop this happening and is worried that it will happen again.  It may not be bullying when two people of roughly the same strength have a fight or disagreement.

    Bullying is a form of aggressive, hurtful behaviour, which is persistent and unprovoked.  It involves an abuse of power.  It may take various forms, including physical, verbal, emotional and written (including text messaging and social networking).

    We will work to create and environment within which positive relationships will be fostered and violent behaviour of any sort will be unacceptable.  Within such an environment bullying behaviour will not be tolerated.  Should bullying occur, the needs of victims of bullying will be paramount, and the school will take all reasonable measures to ensure that the situation is resolved and will not reoccur. 

    Entitlement:

     

    Our school is a community made up of different people each of whom have a particular entitlement.  These entitlements have associated with them particular responsibilities.

    Pupils:

    Pupils are entitled to be educated in an environment that is safe and caring, which provides challenges and is non-threatening and which shows an awareness of individual needs.  Anyone who becomes the target of bullies should not suffer in silence, but have the courage to speak out, to put and end to their own suffering and that of other potential targets.

    In turn, pupils have a responsibility to treat all other pupils, teachers and other staff with respect, to behave properly at all times during the day, to follow the rules of the scholl and to refuse to engage in any bullying behaviour.  Pupils must report any witnessed or suspected instances of bullying to a member of staff.

    Parents:

    Parents are entitled to expect that their children will be educated in an atmosphere which is safe and caring, that the school will take all reasonable steps to prevent bullying occurring and that any bullying incident which is reported will be investigated according to the school’s guidelines.  Parents should advise their children to report any bullying to Mrs Williamson and explain to their child the implications of allowing the bullying to continue unchecked, for themselves and other pupils.  Parents should advise their children not to retaliate violently to any form of bullying.   Parents should be sympathetic and supportive towards their children and reassure them that appropriate action will be taken.  Keep a written record of any instances of bullying.

    In turn, parents have a responsibility to ensure that their child respects and co-operates with teachers, ancillary staff and other pupils, that their child upholds the rules of the school, that they support all aspects of the school ethos and that they contact the school to report any concerns over bullying behaviour.  Parents should co-operate with the school.  If their children are accused of bullying, they should try to ascertain the truth and point out the implications of bullying, both for the children who are being bullied and for the bullies themselves.

    Staff:

    All teachers and other adults in the school community have the right to work in a positive environment where there is respect and fairness at all times, where there is co-operation from pupils and parents, where equal treatment for all staff and pupils pertains and where pupils are truthful and honest.  They have the right to advice and support from the Department of Education (statutory guidance) and from the Education and Library Board.

    In turn, staff have a responsibility to ensure that the children under their care feel secure, are treated impartially and that the best qualities of pupils are fostered.  Teachers and other adults in the school community will foster in the pupils self-esteem, self-respect and respect for others.  Staff will demonstrate by example, the high standards of personal and social behaviour expected fo the pupils.  Staff will discuss bullying with all classes, so that every pupil learns about the damage it causes to both the child who is bullied and to the bully, and the importance of telling a teacher about bullying when it happens.  Staff will listen to children who have been bullied, take what they say seriously and act to support them.  They will report suspected cases of bullying to Mrs Williamson.  Stall will follow up any complain by a parent about bullying and report back promptly and fully on the action that has been taken.

    All:

    Everyone involved in the school community will work together to combat and attempt to eradicate any forms of bullying.

    Procedures for managing incidents of bullying:

     

    Each case of bullying will be dealt with individually and follow-up action will be tailored to meet the individual needs of the pupil concerned.

    The following steps will be followed:

    1. Reporting of an incident: when a bullying incident is reported, the information will be passed on to the following people:
      • The teacher of the children involved
      • The Principal
      • The designated teacher for Child Protection

     

    1. Investigation of an incident:  this will normally be carried out by the designated teacher for Child Protection, in co-operation with any class teachers concerned.  Pupils involved will be interviewed and a record made of their responses using the school’s incident report form.  Parents of all pupils involved will be informed of the school’s action up to this point and will be kept informed of subsequent action. 

     

    1. Responses and Sanctions: working with the pupils concerned, the designated teacher will devise a plan for resolution of the conflict.  (Behaviour Plan)  This plan will include targets for acceptable behaviour and will set out support measures that will be provided for both the bully and the victim.  Any disciplinary action required would use the system of sanctions, which is set out in the school’s positive behaviour policy.

     

    1. Reviewing the situation: the situation will be monitored and reviewed within one month of the initial report.  The designated teacher, ion co-operation with the other teachers, pupils and parents concerned, will do this.

     

    1. Involvement of other agencies in provision of support: when necessary, the school will draw on support from a range of outside agencies including Education Welfare Officer, Behaviour Management Team and the Educational Psychology Service.  In most instances, the school will seek to deal with the situation from within its own resources.  However, if it becomes clear that outside help is needed, the school will not hesitate to avail of it.

     

    Links with other school policies:

     

    This anti-bullying policy forms part of the school’s overall Pastoral Care Policy.  It links with the Child Protection Policy in which the school outlines the steps it will take to protect children from harm and develop their personal safety strategies.  It links with the Positive Behaviour Policy in which the school outlines the types of behaviours which are considered appropriate and inappropriate, together with the sanctions which will be used as part of the disciplinary process.

    Monitoring and Review of Policy:

     

    The Principal will monitor the implementation of this policy.  A report on implementation will be provided annually to the Board of Governors , within the overall report on pastoral Care provision.  The school will review this policy regularly and assess its implementation and effectiveness.

    **In drawing up this policy we have taken account of relevant circulars produced by DENI and other appropriate documentation.  These include:

    • The School Improvement programme – Promoting and Sustaining Good Behaviour (DENI 1998)
    • Evaluating Pastoral Care (DENI 1999)
    • Evaluating Schools (DENI 1998)
    • Integrating Personal Safety Programmes into the Curriculum: Child Protection (CCEA 1999)
    • Child Protection Guidelines – Pastoral Care in Schools: Child Protection (DENI 1999)
    • Challenging Bullying Behaviour: A Practical Guide for Schools, (SELB 2000)
    • Pastoral Care in School: Promoting Positive Behaviour (DENI 2001)
    • Education and Libraries Education Order 2003