Anti-Bullying

Definition
Bullying is defined as a concerted and often prolonged effort to upset a targeted individual in order to demean and undermine to the advantage of the bully.

What is bullying?
The Holden Lane Primary definition of bullying is: “A systematic and extended victimisation of a person or group, by another or group of others.”
Some forms of bullying are attacks not only on the individual, but also on the group to which he or she may belong.
Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying is behaviour which results in pain, distress, anxiety or fear to the victim, it can affect a person’s mental well-being.

Bullying is not:

• Children falling out
• Children losing their temper
• Children pushing or hurting in a single event.

• Physical – a child can be physically punched, kicked, hit, spat at, etc.
• Verbal – Verbal abuse can take the form of name calling. It may be directed towards gender, ethnic origin, physical/social disability, or personality etc.
• Emotional – isolating others, tormenting, hiding books, threatening gestures, ridicule, humiliation, intimidating, excluding, manipulation and coercion.
• Online /Cyber – posting on social media, sharing photos, sending inappropriate text messages, social exclusion.
• Indirect – can include the exploitation of individuals.
• Racial, Religious/Cultural – racial, religious or cultural taunts, graffiti or gestures.
• Special Educational Needs and Disability – negative or abusive comments to anyone who appears to be ‘different’ mentally or physically.
• Homophobic – because of, or focusing on the issue of homosexuality, homophobic abuse/language.
• Exclusion – A child can be bullied simply by being repeatedly excluded from discussions or activities, with those they believe to be their friends.
• Damage to property or theft – Pupils may have their property damaged or stolen. Physical threats may be used by the bully in order that the pupil hands over property to them.

Schools are not directly responsible for bullying that occurs off the premises but we know that bullying can occur outside the school gates and on journeys to and from school. The bullying may be perpetrated by children from our own school, by children from other schools or by people who are not at school at all.

Where a child or Parent/Carer informs us of bullying off the school premises we will:

• Talk to children about how to avoid or handle bullying outside of school.
• Talk to the Headteacher of any other school whose children are bullying.
• Talk to the Police where this is deemed necessary.

The DfE says that, “failure to take disciplinary steps to combat harmful behaviour outside the school might breach the school’s common duty of care.” Legal Services advise that schools can take disciplinary action against children for incidents that occur outside of school.

If bullying is suspected we talk to the suspected victim, the suspected bully and any witnesses. Help, support and counselling will be given as is appropriate to both the victims and bullies. If any degree of bullying is identified, the following action will be taken;

To support the victims we will:

• Offer immediate opportunities to talk about the experience with the class teacher, support staff, Head of Pastoral Care, or any other adult the child may choose.
• Inform the victim’s parents/guardians.
• The class teacher and support staff will monitor and support the situation, working closely with the Head of Pastoral Care.
• The pupil will be offered a 1:1 session with the Head of Pastoral Care.
• External referral for support may be made.
• Arrange for the children to be escorted to and from the school premises
• Apply one or more of the disciplinary steps described below to prevent
• further incidents.
• In all cases we will try to empower the victim to seek help and feel confident and safe in resolving the issue.

Perpetrator:

• All incidents will be investigated fully by the head teacher and Head of Pastoral Care.
• The class teams will monitor and support the situation, working closely with the Head of Pastoral Care;(also Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead).
• Parent/Carer will be informed.
• Parent/Carer may be asked to attend a strategy meeting to try and resolve issues and establish the root cause of bullying behaviour.
• Children may be internally or externally suspended depending on the severity of the bullying. This is at the discretion of the Headteacher.
• Children may be kept in at break and lunchtimes.
• Children may lose reward time or other privileges.
• Further input in Emotional Literacy from the SENCO or Head of Pastoral Care either on a 1:1 or small group basis.
• External referrals for support may be made if required.

Responses to bullying will include SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bonded) outcomes.

Anti-Bullying Week 2022 is coordinated in England and Wales by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. This year the theme was Reach Out and the week kicked off with Odd Socks Day on Monday, where adults and children wore odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique. Children learnt how to raise awareness of bullying of children and young people, in schools and elsewhere, and how to prevent and respond to it. Here are some of the pledges our children came up with:

• Do not be a bystander, be an upstander.
• Notice it and act on it!
• Reach out to someone you trust.
• Be a confident defender.
• Stand up to bullies!

Anti-Bullying Alliance

National Bullying Helpline

NSPCC

Family Lives