St.

Marys Church of England Primary School, High Crompton

Anti - Bullying Policy

Written: Sept 2012 Review Date: Sept 2013 Approved by Governors on:

MISSION STATEMENT

Believe and Achieve

PHILOSOPHY: To provide a fun, stimulating and excellent education which enables each child to achieve their full potential, academically, spiritually, emotionally and socially in a safe, Christian environment. AIMS 1. To nurture and stimulate each childs spiritual journey, developing an appreciation of the Christian values through worship and prayer within the ethos of a Church of England school. 2. To strive to achieve a culture of excellence, by inspiring and engaging all pupils in a creative curriculum, promoting self belief, challenging them to do their best and instilling high aspirations. 3. To equip learners with transferable skills developing creative and enthusiastic thinkers. Pupils will use their initiative, build confidence and independence, promoting a can do attitude and a desire to learn. 4. To provide a welcoming school which ensures all pupils are safe and secure. 5. To promote an ethos of mutual respect, high standards of behaviour and empathy for others, treating everyone fairly with an understanding of their individuality regardless of race, religion, gender, disability or social background. 6. To develop childrens sense of responsibility, enabling them to become valued citizens and contributing members of society, who appreciate and respect cultural identity. 1. Introduction Our Anti Bullying Policy fits alongside the schools Behaviour and Discipline Policy. High standards of behaviour are crucial in establishing and maintaining a quality learning environment for children and adults. Excellent working conditions and the morale of both staff and children rely heavily on the successful implementation of positive behavioural support strategies and appropriate sanctions. All adults in school share a responsibility for ensuring that expectations are consistently high, not least in terms of behaviour and discipline. Everyone in school should feel safe and free from physical and emotional harm. There is a strict no hurting rule.

2. Aims of the Policy The aim of this policy is to eliminate bullying in school and to develop an ethos at St. Marys school where bullying is seen by all to be unacceptable.

We want teachers and staff to: Deal effectively with bullying, through PSHE lessons, Circle Time, Themed Weeks and Worship Keep parents informed Pass on information to other staff as appropriate Keep appropriate records We want pupils to: Tell adults when they think they are being bullied Not join in or watch bullying DO something that will help a child being bullied We want parents to: Support this policy Contact the school if they are concerned that their child is being bullied

3. What is Bullying? At St. Marys we define bullying as: an action taken by one or more children with the deliberate intention of hurting another child, either physically or emotionally over a period of time. We believe that there are a number of types of bullying: Emotional: excluding from a group, tormenting, ridiculing, humiliating Physical: hitting, punching, pinching, kicking or taking someones belongings. Verbal: name-calling, insulting, indirect bullying through spreading stories about someone, threats or making fun of someone. Racist: racial taunts, gestures, making fun of someones culture or religion. Sexual: unwanted physical contact, sexually abusive or sexist comments. Cyber: misuse of mobile phones or internet message boards and chat rooms. Bullying is not: It is important to understand that bullying is not odd occasion falling out with friends, name calling, arguments or when the occasional joke is played on someone. Children do fall out and say things because they are upset. When occasional problems of this kind arise it is NOT bullying. It is an important part of a childs development to learn how to deal with friendship breakdowns, the odd name calling or childish prank. We all have to learn how to deal with these situations and develop social skills to repair relationships. It is bullying if it is done repeatedly and on purpose. Whenever the opportunity arises it must be made profoundly clear that we will NOT tolerate bullying at St. Marys C of E Primary School. We are committed to providing a caring, friendly, happy and safe environment for all our pupils so that they can grow and learn in a relaxed and safe environment.

4. Recognising Signs and Symptoms of Bullying: The school recognises that any pupil can be bullied but that certain factors can make bullying more likely. These include: A lack of close friends in school Shyness Race, religion, sexual orientation, class A disability or some other obvious difference eg stammering Staff will suspect/investigate bullying if a pupil: Becomes withdrawn or anxious Shows a sudden or unexplained deterioration in his/her work. Sudden poor/erratic attendance Has spurious illnesses Persistently arrives late at school Prefers to stay with adults These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated. 5. Online/ Cyber Bullying Like other forms of bullying, online/cyber bullying can seriously impact on the health and self confidence of those targeted. The school defines online/cyber bullying as: The use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate repeated and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others. 5.1 Bullying by text messages Bullying by text message has become an unfortunate and unpleasant by-product of the convenience that SMS (short message service) offers. Texting is more casual than a phone call and messages can be sent and received at times when other communication is not convenient. Sometimes text messages are sent to embarrass, threaten or bully someone. This can be particularly upsetting as the message can arrive when the receiver least expects it. Additionally, if the person's number is not listed in the receiver's address book then the receiver will not necessarily know who has sent the message. This is one reason why children are not allowed to bring mobile phones into school (unless by prior agreement with the Headteacher). Children are however advised to be careful about giving out their mobile phone number, and to ask that those that have their number never pass it on - if only known and trusted friends know the number, the less likely it is to be abused in this way. 5.2 Bullying by email Email provides another method of communication which bullies have seized upon to harass their victims. Fortunately the use of email in school is tightly controlled. Children only have the facility to email each other and cannot send or receive mail externally without the support of the teacher. All internal email is monitored by the classteacher. If being bullied by email, children should not respond to the messages, but should immediately seek help from the classteacher.

5.3 Bullying within chat rooms or by instant messaging Outside school, children are encouraged to always use moderated chat rooms, and to never give out personal information while chatting. If bullying does occur, they are told not to respond to messages, but leave the chat room, and seek advice from a parent or carer. If using a moderated chat room, the system moderators should also be informed, giving as much detail as possible, so that they can take appropriate action.

6. Preventing Bullying The school will take every opportunity to demonstrate to pupils, through the curriculum, through worship and by example, that it is totally opposed to bullying. The school teaches Personal, Social, Citizenship and Health Education on a timetabled basis. Teachers have resources to deliver work on bullying e.g. SEAL and children are encouraged to talk openly during Circle Time if they have difficulties with relationships. The school also uses assemblies to teach children about the effects of bullying and matters concerning friendships and relationships. We feel we have a moral duty to promote responsibility and thus help the children to distinguish between right and wrong. At St. Marys School, staff will not ignore bullying or suspected bullying. All school staff will, wherever possible, intervene to prevent bullying incidents from taking place. The school will encourage pupils to report any incidents of bullying to a teacher or other adult at school. Pupils will be told that they may bring a friend with them if they wish. The school will ensure that all staff, pupils and parents, are aware of the schools antibullying policy. Staff will praise and encourage pupils when they show kindness and consideration to others.

7. Dealing with Bullying Incidents: Allegations and incidents of bullying at St. Marys C of E Primary School will be taken seriously by all staff and dealt with impartially and promptly. All those involved will have the opportunity to be heard. Staff will support all children involved whilst the allegations and incidents are investigated and resolved. In dealing with bullying, school staff will: Not ignore it Not make premature assumptions Listen to all accounts of the incidents Adopt a problem solving approach that encourages pupils to find solutions rather than simply justify themselves. Make regular follow up checks to ensure that bullying has not resumed. 7.1 If a Pupil is Bullied Staff who receive a report of a bullying incident will: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Listen to the pupils account of the incident Reassure the pupil that reporting the bullying incident was the right thing to do Make it clear to the pupil that he or she is not to blame for what has happened Make a note of what the pupil says Explain that the pupil should report any further incidents to the same member of staff immediately.

Staff will ask the pupil: What has happened? How often has it happened? Who was involved? Where it happened? Who saw what happened? What he or she has already done about it? 7.2 Advice to Pupils The school will advise pupils who are caught up in bullying incidents to: Stay calm and look confident Be firm and clear, look the bully in the eye and tell them to stop Get away from the situation as quickly as possible Immediately tell an adult what has happened (ensure it is always the same adult that is informed) 7.3 Helping the Bullies to Change Staff will spend time to help pupils who have bullied others to change their behaviour ie adopt a problem solving approach. If a pupil is bullying others, staff will: Talk to the pupil and explain how the victim feels Encourage the pupil to reflect on ways in which the victim could be made to feel happier Identify supportive action that the pupil can take to help the victim Meet and review with the pupil again after a short period (one week) to identify progress made Give the pupils lots of praise and encouragement when he or she is being kind and considerate to others. 7.4 Dealing with Serious Bullying If the preventative measures and peer support strategies do not succeed, serious bullying will be dealt with under the schools behaviour policy. The bully will: Lose any lunchtime or break privileges Be removed from the group/class Be banned from a school trip or sports event where these are not essential to the curriculum Be excluded for a fixed period. In the most serious cases, permanent exclusion will be the most likely sanction if the bullying: Involves serious actual or threatened violence against another pupil 8.0 Recording Incidents Where bullying is thought to have taken place, the incident must be recorded in the Bullying Incident Log on a Bullying Incident Sheet ( see appendix 1). The bullying Incident log is kept in the Headteachers Office.

9. Strategies for the prevention and reduction of bullying: Whole school initiatives and proactive teaching strategies will be used throughout the school to develop a positive learning environment with the aim of reducing the opportunities for bullying to occur. These include: Regular PSHE teaching following the agreed scheme of work Taking part in national anti bullying week Awareness through anti bullying assemblies Circle time Drama/role play activities Implementation of playground buddies The following of the whole school behaviour policy which includes using praise and rewards to reinforce good behaviour. Encouraging the whole school community to model appropriate behaviour towards one another. 10. Co-operating with Parents and Carers The school is committed to working with parents in dealing with bullying. Bullying in school is everybodys problem. All staff, pupils and parents/carers should be aware that bullying can take place and share a commitment to combat it to make the school a happier place for everyone. The school will ensure the schools anti bullying policy is available to parents. Parents, carers and families are often the first to detect signs of bullying. The school encourages parents/carers who suspect bullying to contact school immediately and make an appointment to see the childs class teacher in the first instance. Parents/carers will be informed of incidents and involved in discussions. The school and the parents/carers will work together to stop bullying incidents. I. Monitoring of Policy This policy is reviewed annually by the Headteacher and Governing Body to ensure it is working effectively.

Appendix 1 Bullying Incident Sheet (Copy to be kept in a central location)

Date of first meeting with pupil(s):

Member of staff: Designation:

Name(s) of pupil(s) believed to have been bullied

Their account of what happened (brief):

How did they feel?

Name(s) of pupil(s) believed to be bullying:

Their account of what happened (brief):

How did they react when the feelings of the victim were explained?

Name(s) of possible witnesses:

Their account of what happened (brief):

How did they react when the feelings of the victim were explained?

Action Taken: Monitor in School state how

Notify Parents (if appropriate) (state who)

Anyone else informed?(state who)

Support for the victim (if appropriate):

Sanctions for the bully (if appropriate):

Follow Up Meetings Follow up meeting 1: Date:

Follow up meeting 2 (if required): Date: