13 Jul 2007 - Anti-Bullying Policy
MINCHINHAMPTON SCHOOL
Anti-Bullying Policy
The aim of the anti-bullying policy is to ensure that we provide a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. The school strongly believes in the principles of tolerance and understanding, and to this end, it will always try to promote reconciliation between differing views and parties.
Bullying at any level in society is anti-social behaviour and affects everyone [pupils, staff and parents]; it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Only when all issues of bullying are addressed will pupils be able to benefit fully from the opportunities available at Minchinhampton School.
Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves. The three main types of bullying are:
· Physical (hitting , kicking, theft)
· Verbal (name calling, racist remarks)
· Indirect (spreading rumours, excluding someone from social groups)
Pupils who are being bullied may show changes in behaviour, such as becoming shy and nervous, feigning illness, taking unusual absences or clinging to adults. There may be evidence of changes in work patterns, a lack of concentration or truancy from school. Pupils must be encouraged to report bullying in our school.
Teaching and support staff must be alert to signs of bullying and act promptly and firmly against it in accordance with school policy.
Statutory Duty of Schools
The Headteacher has a legal duty under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to draw up procedures to prevent bullying among pupils and to bring these procedures to the attention of staff, parents and pupils.
Implementation
The following steps should be taken when dealing with incidents. It is important to note that in all cases, the initial incident should be reported to the class teacher.
Step 1.
· If bullying behaviour is felt to be taking place by a pupil [or parent of an affected pupil], the incident should be reported directly to the pupil?s class teacher
· A clear account of the incident will be recorded and given to the Headteacher or in the absence of Headteacher, the Deputy or senior member of staff
· The class teacher or, in the absence of the class teacher, the Headteacher will interview all concerned and an attempt will be made to reconcile the bully and the bullied.
· Where appropriate, parents will be informed. A record of the incident will be made and put on file.
· Action will be administered as appropriate and in consultation with all parties concerned.
Step 2
· If the bullying behaviour continues, or the action taken to resolve the issue is felt to be inappropriate, the matter should be escalated directly to the Headteacher.
· The Headteacher will review the case and interview all parties concerned.
· Where action is identified, this will be carried out and the relevant parties concerned will be informed.
Step 3a
· If the approach taken in steps 1 and 2 has not been successful in resolving the issue, then the matter should be escalated to the Chair of Governors in writing, stating the reason for the issue and actions taken to date.
· The Chair of Governors will review the case with the Headteacher and where appropriate convene a meeting between the Headteacher and parents to decide the best approach to deal with the situation.
Step 3b
· If the approach taken in steps 1 and 2 is deemed not to follow the AntiBullying Policy as defined, then the matter should be escalated to the Chair of Governors in writing by the affected party, stating why it is felt that due process has not been followed.
· The Chair of Governors will review the case with the Headteacher and determine whether or not the process has fallen down. If this is indeed the case, an action plan will be defined and implemented to address any shortcoming
· The Chair of Governors, if necessary, will convene a meeting between the Headteacher and parents to decide the best approach to deal with the situation.
Please note that at no time should Governors be approached personally to discuss individual cases.
MINCHINHAMPTON SCHOOL
Anti-Bullying Policy
Pupils who have been bullied will be supported by:
· Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with their teacher or member of staff of their choice
· Reassuring the pupil
· Offering continuous support
· Restoring self-esteem and confidence
Pupils who have shown any tendency to bullying will be supported by:
· Discussing their behaviour with their teacher or member of staff of their choice
· Establishing why the pupil showed tendencies of bullying and / or other factors which may have contributed to such actions, e.g. changes in home circumstances which may have triggered such behaviour.
· Where appropriate, involving parents or guardians to help promote positive and productive attitudes to fellow pupils
Pupils who have bullied will be helped by:
· Discussing what happened
· Discovering why the pupil became involved
· Establishing the wrong doing and need to change
· Informing parents or guardians to help change the attitude of the pupil
The following disciplinary steps in order of severity can be taken:
· Official warnings to cease offending
· Punishment, such as loss of playtimes
· Exclusion during lunchtimes
· Minor fixed term exclusion
· Major fixed term exclusion
· Permanent exclusion
In an attempt to eradicate such behaviour within the curriculum the school will raise the awareness of the nature of bullying through inclusion in PSHE, class discussion and assemblies as appropriate.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Review
The Headteacher, staff and the Governors will review this policy and assess its implementation and effectiveness on an annual basis. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the school.
MINCHINHAMPTON SCHOOL
POLICY AND CODE ON ANTI-BULLYING
Formulated by pupils and staff at all levels of the School.
1. Every pupil has the right to enjoy his or her learning and leisure time
free from intimidation.
2. Our School Community will not tolerate unkind actions or remarks
even when these were not intended to hurt.
3. To stand by when someone else is being bullied, is to support bullying.
4. Pupils should support each other by reporting all instances of bullying
to a member of staff.
5. Bullying will always be taken seriously.
Anti-Bullying Policy
The aim of the anti-bullying policy is to ensure that we provide a supportive, caring and safe environment without fear of being bullied. The school strongly believes in the principles of tolerance and understanding, and to this end, it will always try to promote reconciliation between differing views and parties.
Bullying at any level in society is anti-social behaviour and affects everyone [pupils, staff and parents]; it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Only when all issues of bullying are addressed will pupils be able to benefit fully from the opportunities available at Minchinhampton School.
Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves. The three main types of bullying are:
· Physical (hitting , kicking, theft)
· Verbal (name calling, racist remarks)
· Indirect (spreading rumours, excluding someone from social groups)
Pupils who are being bullied may show changes in behaviour, such as becoming shy and nervous, feigning illness, taking unusual absences or clinging to adults. There may be evidence of changes in work patterns, a lack of concentration or truancy from school. Pupils must be encouraged to report bullying in our school.
Teaching and support staff must be alert to signs of bullying and act promptly and firmly against it in accordance with school policy.
Statutory Duty of Schools
The Headteacher has a legal duty under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to draw up procedures to prevent bullying among pupils and to bring these procedures to the attention of staff, parents and pupils.
Implementation
The following steps should be taken when dealing with incidents. It is important to note that in all cases, the initial incident should be reported to the class teacher.
Step 1.
· If bullying behaviour is felt to be taking place by a pupil [or parent of an affected pupil], the incident should be reported directly to the pupil?s class teacher
· A clear account of the incident will be recorded and given to the Headteacher or in the absence of Headteacher, the Deputy or senior member of staff
· The class teacher or, in the absence of the class teacher, the Headteacher will interview all concerned and an attempt will be made to reconcile the bully and the bullied.
· Where appropriate, parents will be informed. A record of the incident will be made and put on file.
· Action will be administered as appropriate and in consultation with all parties concerned.
Step 2
· If the bullying behaviour continues, or the action taken to resolve the issue is felt to be inappropriate, the matter should be escalated directly to the Headteacher.
· The Headteacher will review the case and interview all parties concerned.
· Where action is identified, this will be carried out and the relevant parties concerned will be informed.
Step 3a
· If the approach taken in steps 1 and 2 has not been successful in resolving the issue, then the matter should be escalated to the Chair of Governors in writing, stating the reason for the issue and actions taken to date.
· The Chair of Governors will review the case with the Headteacher and where appropriate convene a meeting between the Headteacher and parents to decide the best approach to deal with the situation.
Step 3b
· If the approach taken in steps 1 and 2 is deemed not to follow the AntiBullying Policy as defined, then the matter should be escalated to the Chair of Governors in writing by the affected party, stating why it is felt that due process has not been followed.
· The Chair of Governors will review the case with the Headteacher and determine whether or not the process has fallen down. If this is indeed the case, an action plan will be defined and implemented to address any shortcoming
· The Chair of Governors, if necessary, will convene a meeting between the Headteacher and parents to decide the best approach to deal with the situation.
Please note that at no time should Governors be approached personally to discuss individual cases.
MINCHINHAMPTON SCHOOL
Anti-Bullying Policy
Pupils who have been bullied will be supported by:
· Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with their teacher or member of staff of their choice
· Reassuring the pupil
· Offering continuous support
· Restoring self-esteem and confidence
Pupils who have shown any tendency to bullying will be supported by:
· Discussing their behaviour with their teacher or member of staff of their choice
· Establishing why the pupil showed tendencies of bullying and / or other factors which may have contributed to such actions, e.g. changes in home circumstances which may have triggered such behaviour.
· Where appropriate, involving parents or guardians to help promote positive and productive attitudes to fellow pupils
Pupils who have bullied will be helped by:
· Discussing what happened
· Discovering why the pupil became involved
· Establishing the wrong doing and need to change
· Informing parents or guardians to help change the attitude of the pupil
The following disciplinary steps in order of severity can be taken:
· Official warnings to cease offending
· Punishment, such as loss of playtimes
· Exclusion during lunchtimes
· Minor fixed term exclusion
· Major fixed term exclusion
· Permanent exclusion
In an attempt to eradicate such behaviour within the curriculum the school will raise the awareness of the nature of bullying through inclusion in PSHE, class discussion and assemblies as appropriate.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Review
The Headteacher, staff and the Governors will review this policy and assess its implementation and effectiveness on an annual basis. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the school.
MINCHINHAMPTON SCHOOL
POLICY AND CODE ON ANTI-BULLYING
Formulated by pupils and staff at all levels of the School.
1. Every pupil has the right to enjoy his or her learning and leisure time
free from intimidation.
2. Our School Community will not tolerate unkind actions or remarks
even when these were not intended to hurt.
3. To stand by when someone else is being bullied, is to support bullying.
4. Pupils should support each other by reporting all instances of bullying
to a member of staff.
5. Bullying will always be taken seriously.