Buckingham Park Primary School

How do we deal with bullying at Buckingham Park Primary School

Buckingham Park Primary School recognises that all forms of bullying, especially if left unaddressed, can have a devastating effect on individuals; it can create a barrier to learning and have serious consequences for mental wellbeing. By effectively preventing and tackling bullying our school can help to create a safe and disciplined environment, where pupils are able to learn and fulfil their potential.

Our School:

• Monitors and reviews our anti-bullying policy and practice on a regular basis.
• Supports staff to promote positive relationships to help prevent bullying.
• Recognises that some members of our community may be more vulnerable to bullying and its impact than others; this may include children with SEND. Being aware of this will help us to develop effective strategies to prevent bullying from happening and provide appropriate support, if required.
• Will intervene by identifying and tackling bullying behaviour appropriately and promptly.
• Ensures our pupils are aware that bullying concerns will be dealt with sensitively and effectively; that everyone should feel safe to learn and abide by the anti-bullying policy.
• Requires all members of the community to work with the school to uphold the anti-bullying policy.
• Recognises the potential impact of bullying on the wider family of those affected so will work in partnership with parents/carers regarding all reported bullying concerns and will seek to keep them informed at all stages.
• Will deal promptly with grievances regarding the school’s response to bullying in line with our complaints policy
• Seeks to learn from good anti-bullying practice elsewhere.
• Utilises support from the Local Authority and other relevant organisations when appropriate.

Strategies in school for the prevention and reduction of bullying

Environment

The whole school community will:

• Create and support an inclusive environment which promotes a culture of mutual respect, consideration and care for others, which will be upheld by all.
• Recognise that bullying can be perpetrated or experienced by any member of the community, including adults and children (peer on peer abuse).
• Recognises the potential for children with SEN and disabilities to be disproportionally impacted by bullying and will implement additional pastoral support as required.
• Openly discuss differences between people that could motivate bullying, such as: children with different family situations, such as looked after children or those with caring responsibilities, religion, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexuality or appearance related difference.
• Challenge practice and language (including ‘banter’) which does not uphold the school values of tolerance, non-discrimination and respect towards others.
• Be encouraged to use technology, especially mobile phones and social media, positively and responsibly.
• Work with staff, the wider community and outside agencies to prevent and tackle concerns including all forms of prejudice-driven bullying.
• Actively create “safe spaces” for vulnerable children and young people.
• Celebrate success and achievements to promote and build a positive school ethos.

Policy and Support

The whole school community will:

• Provide a range of approaches for pupils, staff and parents/carers to access support and report concerns.
• Regularly update and evaluate our practice to consider the developments of technology and provide up-to-date advice and education to all members of the community regarding positive online behaviour.
• Take appropriate, proportionate and reasonable action, in line with existing school policies, for any bullying brought to the schools’ attention, which involves or effects pupils, even when they are not on school premises; for example, when using school transport or online, etc..
• Implement appropriate disciplinary sanctions; the consequences of bullying will reflect the seriousness of the incident, so that others see that bullying is unacceptable.
• Use a variety of techniques to resolve the issues between those who bully, and those who have been bullied.

Education and Training

The school community will:

• Train all staff, including: teaching staff, support staff (e.g. administration staff, lunchtime support staff and site support staff) and pastoral staff, to identify all forms of bullying and take appropriate action, following the school’s policy and procedures, including recording and reporting incidents.
• Consider a range of opportunities and approaches for addressing bullying throughout the curriculum and other activities, such as: through displays, assemblies, peer support, the school/student council, etc..
• Collaborate with other local educational settings as appropriate, and during key times of the year, for example during transition.
• Ensure anti-bullying has a high profile throughout the year, reinforced through key opportunities such as anti-bullying week. 
• Provide systematic opportunities to develop pupils’ social and emotional skills, including building their resilience and self-esteem.

What can you do if you are being bullied?

We want everybody to feel confident to report bullying whenever and wherever it happens, and get the help they need to feel safe again. If someone is bullying you, it important to remember that is not your fault and there are people that can help you. Tell someone you trust, giving them as many facts as you can (Who? Where? What? Why? When? How?). All pupils know that if they are experiencing bullying they should tell their teacher in the first instance. Should a pupil not feel confident in doing this our learning mentor is available to speak to pupils or they may choose to use the school council representatives.

What can you do if you see someone else being bullied? (The role the bystander)

Ignoring bullying is cowardly and unfair on the victim. Staying silent means that the bully has won and gives them more power. There are ways you can help without putting yourself in danger, for example tell a member of staff as soon as possible or ask someone you trust about what to do.

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.
• A senior member of staff will speak to all parties involved.
• The Designated Safeguarding Lead (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.
• 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 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 of the school site or outside of normal school hours (including cyberbullying), the school will ensure that the concern is fully investigated. If required, the 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 on CPOMS, the school’s confidential online safeguarding system. This will include recording appropriate details regarding decisions and action taken.

Supporting Pupils

Pupils who have been bullied will be supported by:

• Reassuring the pupil and providing continuous pastoral support.
• Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with their teacher, the designated safeguarding lead, or a member of staff of their choice.
• Being advised to keep a record of the bullying as evidence and discuss how to respond to concerns and build resilience as appropriate.
• Working towards restoring self-esteem and confidence.
• Providing ongoing support; this may include: working and speaking with staff, offering formal counselling, engaging with parents and carers.
• Where necessary, working with the wider community and local/national organisations to provide further or specialist advice and guidance; this could include support through Early Help or Specialist Children’s Services, or support through the Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (CYPMHS).

Pupils who have perpetrated bullying will be helped by:

• Discussing what happened, establishing the concern and the need to change.
• Informing parents/carers to help change the attitude and behaviour of the child.
• Providing appropriate education and support regarding their behaviour or actions.
• If online, requesting that content be removed and reporting accounts/content to service provider.
• Sanctioning, in line with school behaviour/discipline policy; this may include official warnings, detentions, removal of privileges (including online access when encountering cyberbullying concerns), and fixed-term or permanent exclusions.
• Where necessary, working with the wider community and local/national organisations to provide further or specialist advice and guidance; this may include involvement from the Police or referrals to Early Help, Specialist Children’s Services, or the Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (CYPMHS).

Contacting the school

• Before you approach the school, list all the facts: what happened, who was involved, when it occurred, who witnessed it, anything your child did that may have provoked the incident, whether it was a one-off or series of events.
• Aim to work together with us, and support us in finding a solution.
• Avoid accusing the school: Remember that we are usually the last to find out that bullying is happening at school. The sequence is "friends first, then parents, lastly schools".
• Be patient: please allow us time to deal with the problem – we don’t want bullying in our school, and we want to make the situation better.

Please Click here to find out about Anti Bullying Week 2023