Carr Manor Primary School

Anti Bullying Policy

THIS DOCUMENT IS a statement of the aims, principles and strategies for combating bullying at Carr Manor Primary School.

LEA GUIDELINES he been taken into consideration in the formulation of this policy.

SCHOOL POSITION

We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a ZERO TOLERANCE school. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff.

What Is Bullying? THE FACTS

The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying as the ‘repetitive, intentional hurting of a person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of ‘power.’

Bullying can take several forms. Some are obvious e.g. physical assault, intimidation, threats and name-calling. Others are more subtle and harder to identify immediately e.g. exclusion or a certain look or sign that conveys meaning.

The focus of some bullying can be specific e.g. racist, homophobic, gender based, transgender, peer-on-peer or predicated on any discernible difference e.g. body shape or disability.

Cyber bullying (also called 'online bullying') is when a person or a group of people use the internet, email, online games or any other kind of social media or digital technology to threaten, tease, upset or humiliate someone else.

1. can obviously make victims’ lives miserable, frightening and even unbearable – affecting their happiness, fulfilment, learning, wider success and safety.

Why is it Important to Respond to Bullying?

Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving. AT CMPS we use Restorative Practice (RP) to challenge bullying and to ensure that potential bullies are aware of the effect on their peers.

Schools have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.

Objectives of this Policy

• All governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have a clear understanding of what bullying is.
• All governors and teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
• All pupils and parents should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
• As a school we take bullying very seriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.
• Bullying will not be tolerated.

Signs and Symptoms

A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

• is frightened of walking to or from school
• doesn't want to go on the school / public bus
• begs to be driven to school
• changes their usual routine
• is unwilling to go to school (school phobic)
• begins to truant
• becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence
• starts stammering
• attempts or threatens suicide or runs away
• cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
• feels ill in the morning
• begins to do poorly in school work
• comes home with clothes torn or books damaged
• has possessions which are damaged or " go missing"
• asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)
• has dinner or other monies continually "lost"
• has unexplained cuts or bruises
• comes home starving (money / lunch has been stolen)
• becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable
• is bullying other children or siblings
• stops eating
• is frightened to say what's wrong
• gives improbable excuses for any of the above
• is afraid to use the internet or mobile phone
• is nervous & jumpy when a cyber message is received

These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated

Procedures

1. Report bullying incidents to staff.
2. The class teacher will be informed about the incident (to check if this is a recurring incident). The class teacher will also inform the Head Teacher.
3. Depending on the situation the child responsible for the bullying behaviour will be involved in a Restorative Circle led by an appropriate adult involving their peers and the individual most affected.
4. The incident will be recorded by staff, a red card will be given and a note will be written in the planner for parents to see.
5. In serious cases, parents will be informed and will be invited to a meeting to discuss the problem.
6. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted and the child will be excluded for an agreed period of time. Internal exclusion may also be considered.
7. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour.

Outcomes

1. The bully (bullies) may be asked to apologise. The person who has been bullied will be included in determining possible sanctions which may include loss of play times, clubs etc.
2. Parents will be contacted and involved

2) In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered

3) If possible, the pupils will be reconciled

4) After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place

Developing Awareness

At Carr Manor PS Anti Bullying is given a high profile. This includes Key Stage assemblies led by the head teacher / members of the Senior Leadership Team, involving outside agencies to do focused work around circles and making the correct choices, regularly reinforcing awareness through PSHCE and Restorative Practice.

Reviewed by Deborah Kenny (April 2017)