At Woodlands we are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our children so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our academy. If bullying does occur, all children should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly, fairly, severely and effectively. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to inform members of staff.

What is Bullying?

Bullying can be defined as “behaviour by an individual or a group, repeated over time that intentionally hurts another individual either physically or emotionally.” (DfE “Preventing and Tackling Bullying”, July 2017)

Bullying can include: name calling; taunting; mocking; making offensive comments; kicking; hitting; taking belongings; producing offensive graffiti; gossiping; excluding people from groups and spreading hurtful and untruthful rumours.

This includes the same unacceptable behaviours expressed online, sometimes called online bullying or cyberbullying. This can include: sending offensive, upsetting and inappropriate messages by phone, text, instant messenger; through online games, websites, social media sites and apps, and sending offensive or degrading photos or videos.

Bullying is recognised by the school as being a form of child on child abuse. It can be emotionally abusive and can cause severe and adverse effects on children’s emotional development.

Bullying is not:

It is important to understand that bullying is not the odd occasion of falling out with friends, name calling, arguments or when the occasional trick or joke is played on someone. It is bullying if it is done several times on purpose.

Children sometimes fall out or say things because they are upset. When occasional problems of this kind arise, it is not classed as bullying. It is an important part of children’s 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 and it is the school’s role to support pupils in doing this.

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. Students who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.

Objectives of this Policy

All governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, students and parents should understand what bullying is.

All governors and teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school’s policy is on bullying and follow it when bullying is reported.

All children and parents should know what the school’s policy is on bullying and what they should do if bullying arises.

As a school we take bullying seriously. Children and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.

Bullying will not be tolerated.

Responding to incidents when they occur

Pupils who have been bullied should report this to:

· Any member of staff (Teachers, Teaching Assistants or Midday Supervisors),

· Their class member of the school council,

· Their parents,

· A school friend.

Pupils who see others being bullied should report this to:

· Any member of staff (Teachers, Teaching Assistants or Midday Supervisors),

· Their class member of the school council,

· Their parents.

Reports of bullying will be logged on CPOMS by:

The class teacher or teaching assistant or the person responding to the bullying initially.

Where bullying is of a racist or homophobic, bi-phobic, or transphobic nature, we will report this to the Local Education Authority.

All reports will be taken seriously and will be followed up by the class teacher or member of the SLT

Signs and Symptoms to be aware of:

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

· is frightened of walking to or from their school

· doesn't want to go into vulnerable areas of the school i.e. toilets, library, dinner hall

· is unwilling to go to school

· becomes withdrawn, anxious, or lacking

· changes in behaviours

Responding to bullying

The following steps may be taken when dealing with all incidents of bullying reported to the school:

If bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be dealt with immediately by the member of staff who has been approached or witnessed the concern.

The school will provide appropriate support for the person being bullied – making sure they are not at risk of immediate harm and will involve them in any decision making, as appropriate.

The Headteacher/ Deputy Headteacher/Assistant Headteacher/Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or inclusion worker will interview all parties involved.

The DSL/Deputy DSL will be informed of all bullying issues where there are safeguarding concerns.

The school will speak with and inform other staff members, where appropriate.

The school will ensure parents/carers are kept informed about the concern and action taken, as appropriate and in line with child protection and confidentially policies.

Sanctions, as identified within the school behaviour policy, and support will be implemented in consultation with all parties concerned.

If necessary, other agencies may be consulted or be involved, such as the police, if a criminal offence has been committed, or other local services including early help or children’s social care, if a child is felt to be at risk of significant harm.

Where the bullying of or by pupils takes place off school site or outside of normal school hours (including cyberbullying), the school will ensure that the concern is fully investigated. If required, the Deputy DSL will collaborate with other schools.

Appropriate action will be taken, including providing support and implementing sanctions in school in accordance with this policy and the school’s behaviour policy.

A clear and precise account of bullying incidents will be recorded by the school in accordance with existing procedures. This will include recording appropriate details regarding decisions and action taken.

Work with children who have been bullied could involve some or all of the following:

They will be reassured that they do not deserve to be bullied and this is not their fault.

We will assure them that it was right to report the incident.

We will try to ascertain the extent of the problem.

We will engage them in making choices about how the matter may be resolved.

We will try to ensure that they feel safe.

We will discuss strategies for being safe and staying safe.

We will ask them to report immediately any further incidents to us.

We will affirm that bullying can be stopped and that our school will persist with intervention until it does.

We will involve their friends / older pupils in peer support / mediation

We may then adopt strategies from the following list as appropriate:

We will interview the pupil (or pupils) involved in bullying separately.

We will listen to their version of events.

We will talk to anyone else who may have witnessed the bullying.

We will reinforce the message that bullying is not acceptable, and that we expect bullying to stop.

We will seek a commitment to this end.

We will affirm that it is right for pupils to let us know when they are being bullied.

We will adopt a joint problem-solving approach where this is appropriate, and ask the pupils involved to help us find solutions to the problem.

This will encourage pupils involved to take responsibility for the emotional and social needs of others.

We will consider sanctions under our school’s Positive Behaviour Policy.

We will advise pupils responsible for bullying that we will be checking to ensure that bullying stops.

We will ensure that those involved know that we have done so.

When bullying occurs, we will contact the parents of the pupils involved at an early stage.

We will follow up after incidents to check that the bullying has not started again.

We will also work with pupils who have been involved in bullying others to ascertain the sort of support that they themselves need.

Cyberbullying

When responding to cyberbullying concerns, the school will:

Act as soon as an incident has been reported or identified.

Provide appropriate support for the person who has been cyberbullied and work with the person who has carried out the bullying to ensure that it does not happen again.

Encourage the person being bullied to keep any evidence (screenshots) of the bullying activity to assist any investigation.

Take all available steps where possible to identify the person responsible. This may include:

· looking at use of the school systems;

· identifying and interviewing possible witnesses;

· Contacting the service provider and the police, if necessary.

Work with the individuals and online service providers to prevent the incident from spreading and assist in removing offensive or upsetting material from circulation. This may include:

· Support reports to a service provider to remove content if those involved are unable to be identified or if those involved refuse to or are unable to delete content.

· Confiscating and searching pupils’ electronic devices, such as mobile phones, in accordance with the law and the school’s Positive Behaviour policy. (We will access the DfE ‘Searching, screening and confiscation at school’ and Childnet cyberbullying guidance to ensure that the school’s powers are used proportionately and lawfully)

· Requesting the deletion of locally-held content and content posted online if they contravene school behavioural policies.

Ensure that sanctions are applied to the person responsible for the cyberbullying; the school will take steps to change the attitude and behaviour of the bully, as well as ensuring access to any additional help that they may need.

Inform the police if a criminal offence has been committed.

Provide information to staff and pupils regarding steps they can take to protect themselves online. This may include:

· advising those targeted not to retaliate or reply;

· providing advice on blocking or removing people from contact lists;

· helping those involved to think carefully about what private information

· they may have in the public domain.

When more serious consequences are needed

If necessary, we will invoke the following range of sanctions that are in line with the school’s Behaviour & Rewards Policy. These include:

⮚ Removal from the group

⮚ Withdrawal of break and lunchtime privileges

⮚ Withholding participation in school events that are not an essential part of the curriculum.

⮚ In extreme cases we will also consider fixed term and / or permanent exclusion from school.

Responsibilities

Governors:

The Governing body supports the headteacher in all attempts to eliminate bullying from our school. The policy statement makes it very clear that the governing body does not allow bullying to take place in our school, and that any incidents of bullying that do occur are taken very seriously and dealt with appropriately.

The governing body monitors the incidents of bullying that occur, and reviews the effectiveness of the school policy regularly. The governors require the headteacher to keep accurate records of all incidents of bullying and to report to the governors on request about the effectiveness of school anti-bullying strategies.

The governing body responds within ten days to any request from a parent to investigate incidents of bullying. In all cases, the governing body notifies the headteacher and asks him/her to investigate the case and to report back to a representative of the governing body.

The role of the Headteacher

To communicate this policy to the school community, to ensure that disciplinary measures are applied fairly, consistently and reasonably, and that a member of the senior leadership team has been identified to take overall responsibility.

Ensures that all staff (teaching and non-teaching) are aware of the school’s policy and know how to deal with incidents of bullying. The headteacher reports to the governing body about the effectiveness of the anti-bullying policy on request.

Ensures that all children know that bullying is wrong, and that it is unacceptable behaviour in this school.

The headteacher ensures that all staff receive sufficient training to be equipped to deal with all incidents of bullying.

The role of Teachers

Teachers in our school take all forms of bullying seriously, and intervene to prevent incidents from taking place. They keep their own records of all incidents that happen in their class and that they are aware of in the school.

If teachers witness an act of bullying, they do all they can to support the child who is being bullied. If a child is being bullied over a period of time, then, after consultation with Senior Leaders, the teacher informs the child’s parents/carers.

If a teacher become aware of any bullying taking place between children, we deal with the issue immediately. This may involve counselling and support for the victim of the bullying, and punishment for the child who has carried out the bullying.

We spend time talking to the child who has bullied: we explain why the action of the child was wrong, and we endeavour to help the child change their behaviour in future. If a child is repeatedly involved in bullying other children, we inform the headteacher and discuss the situation.

In more extreme cases, for example where these initial discussions have proven ineffective, the headteacher may contact external support agencies such as the social services.

Teachers attempt to support all children in their class and to establish a climate of trust and respect for all. By praising, rewarding and celebrating the success of all children, we aim to prevent incidents of bullying.

The role of parents

Parents who are concerned that their child might be being bullied, or who suspect that their child may be the perpetrator of bullying, should contact their child’s class teacher immediately.

Parents have a responsibility to support the school’s anti-bullying policy and to actively encourage their child to be a positive member of the school

Pupil Responsibilities

As a member of the academy, the school expects you:

· Not to put up with any form of bullying

· To work with others to stop bullying

· To inform a member of staff of any form of bullying

· Not to be afraid of reporting incidents. If you do nothing, it might suggest that you are supporting the bullying

· Not to put up with bullies in your group of friends, do not be a bystander report to staff if you see anyone being bullied.

Don’t suffer in silence

· don’t blame yourself for what has happened

· tell a teacher or another adult

· if you are scared to tell an adult by yourself, ask a friend to come with you

· keep speaking up until someone listens and does something to stop the bullying

Co-op Academy Woodlands

Anti-Bullying Code

Bullying is behaviour that hurts someone else – such as name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours, threatening or undermining someone. It can happen anywhere – at school, at home or online. It’s usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally.

IF YOU ARE BEING BULLIED:

MAKE YOURSELF SAFE

TELL SOMEONE – TEACHER, ANOTHER ADULT, FRIEND, PARENT/CARER

NEVER KEEP IT A SECRET

IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE IS BEING BULLIED, IT IS UP TO YOU TO TELL AN ADULT

YOU WILL GET HELP AS SOON AS YOU TELL SOMEONE ABOUT IT

DO NOT RETALIATE OR GET YOUR OWN BACK – TELL AN ADULT IF YOU DON’T GET HELP FIRST TIME; TELL SOMEONE UNTIL YOU DO GET HELP

REMEMBER:

● Bullying will continue until it is stopped;

● Bullying can happen to anyone;

● Bullying can be by one person or many people;

● Bullying can happen anywhere.

TOGETHER WE WILL BEAT BULLYING