Knockskeagh NS

Anti Bullying Policy

Introductory Statement

This policy was formulated by the staff for the Board of Management of Knockskeagh NS. It was subsequently ratified by the Board of Management in 2003.

Rationale.

It is stated in the Code of Behaviour for Knockskeagh NS that bullying is unacceptable behaviour and as such will not be tolerated. We acknowledge the uniqueness of each individual and his/her worth. We believe that the best way to prevent bullying is to promote an atmosphere and ethos in the school building and within the school community that does not tolerate bullying behaviour. In our endeavour to promote inclusivitywe aim to prevent and combat discrimination. The school promotes habits of mutual respect, courtesy and an awareness of our interdependence whether adult or child in the school community. It is one that respects, values and accommodates diversity across all grounds outlined in the equality legislation, including gender, family status, sexual orientation, religion, disability, race and membership of the travelling community. It seeks positive experiences, a sense of belonging and to ensure that no one would be bullied on any of these grounds. Prevention is the best strategy. However, incidents of bullying may still occur and our guidelines indicate our approach to those incidents.

Relationship to School Ethos.

Knockskeagh NS aims to provide its’ pupils with a safe secure environment. To this end we feel that a policy on bullying would ensure that the entire school community feels there are ways and means to deal with such incidents as they occur.

Definition of Bullying.

“Bullying is repeated aggression, verbal, psychological or physical conducted by an individual or group against others”(Departmentof Education Guidelines 1993).

Physical Aggression:

This includes pushing,shoving,punching, spitting, kicking,poking and tripping people up. It may also take the form of severe physical assault.

Damage to property:

This involves damage to clothing,schoolbooks,bags or any item of personal property.

Extortion:

Demands may be made to hand over money,lunches or personal property.Victims may also be forced into theft of property for delivery to the bully. This tactic may be used with the sole purpose of incriminating the victim.

Intimidation:

This can be described as the use of

  • very aggressive body language, with the voice used as a weapon,
  • facial expressions which convey aggression and/or dislike.

Body language can be a form of intimidation without any contact taking place.

Abusive telephone calls, e mails, text messages.

The abusive, anonymous or silent telephone call is a form of bullying and could be used against pupils or staff.

Isolation:

This is when a certain person is deliberately isolated, excluded or ignored by some of or the entire class group. It may be accompanied by writing insulting remarks about the victim in public places, by passing around notes about or drawings of the victim or by whispering insults about them.

Name Calling:

Persistent name calling which hurts insults or humiliates is regarded as a form of bullying behaviour

.

Slagging:

This behaviour usually refers to the good-natured banter that goes on as part of the normal social interchange between people. However, when this slagging extends to personal remarks aimed at an individual, or when the individual concerned indicates that this is unacceptable to them, then it assumes the form of bullying if those involved continue.

Bullying of School Personnel:

Any of the above, when used against school personnel, is a form of bullying.

Teacher Behaviour

This includes using sarcasm, making negative comments about a person’s appearance or background, humiliating, threatening or intimidating pupils.

It is important to remember that everyone’s behaviour matters, whether adult or child.

Research has shownthat;

Any pupil,through no fault of his or her own, may attract bullying behaviour.

Bullying is often carried out by those with poor self-discipline and low self-esteem.

The schoolyard, the corridors and toilet areas are the most likely places for bullying to occur.

Teachers in our school are conscious that they are significant role models for pupils and this is reflected in the way they deal with the pupils in their care.

We believe that the following will help create an ethos that promotes a safe environment for all:

  • Teachers engaged in supervision of pupils during recreation are watchful, in as far as is possible, for incidences of bullying behaviour.
  • Through the school curriculum, all pupils are provided with opportunities to achieve success, thus enhancing self-esteem.
  • A co-operative and positive classroom environment minimizes bullying behaviour.
  • Children are provided with opportunities of assuming responsibility for their classroom and school. (e.g: Green Schools Committee, Litter Wardens, Class Jobs etc.)
  • Subjects are taught at every class level which deal directly with the issue of bullying, (Stay Safe, Relationships and Sexuality Education, Social, Personal and Health Education, see relevant curricular policies.)
  • New pupils are made welcome.

Signs and Symptoms of Bullying

The following signs/symptoms may suggest that a pupil is being bullied

  • Anxiety about travelling to and from school
  • Unwillingness to attend school, refusal to attend
  • Deterioration in educational performance, loss of concentration and loss of enthusiasm and interest in school
  • Pattern of physical illness (e.g. headache, stomach aches, etc)
  • Unexplained changes either in mood or behaviour ( it may be particularly noticeable before returning to school after weekends, or more especially after longer holidays)
  • Visible signs of anxiety or distress- stammering, withdrawing, nightmares, difficulty in sleeping, crying, not eating, vomiting, bedwetting,
  • Spontaneous out of character comments about either pupils or teachers
  • Possessions missing or damaged
  • Increased requests for money or stealing of money
  • Unexplained bruising or cuts or damaged clothing
  • Reluctance and / or refusing to say what is troubling him/her. These signs do not necessarily mean that a pupil is being bullied. If repeated or occurring in combination, these signs do warrant investigation, in order to establish what is affecting the pupil.

Prevention

In order to prevent bullying the following strategies are implemented:

Disclosure

1.Children are encouraged to disclose and discuss incidents of bullying behaviour. Teachers listen with respect to all complaints, no matter how trivial. In this way, pupils will gain confidence in “telling”. We assure the children that they did the right thing in telling an adult, that they are not telling tales but rather behaving responsibly. We tell them that we will take the appropriate action, and that we will dealwith it in a sensitive manner. We assure the child that there is no need for embarrassment.

2. We endeavour to take a calm, level-headed problem-solving approach when dealing with incidents of bullying behaviour are reported by pupils, staff or parents/guardians. These incidents are best investigated outside of the classroom situation, for confidentiality and privacy reasons.

3. We try to ascertain the facts, who, where, when, what and why.

4. If a group is involved, each member of the group is interviewed independently, and then the group should be interviewed as a whole.

5. When investigating cases of bullying behaviour, we keep a written record of our discussions with those involved.

6. An incident book is kept in the Principal’s office to note and report bullying behaviour. Teachers usually investigate minor incidents in their own class. It may be necessary on occasions to have another teacher or Principal present when interviewing a pupil. Serious cases of bullying behaviour by pupils are reported immediately to the Principal.

7. Teachers endeavour to promote the best interests of the children in their care. They active teach the children to name and identify the bullying activity, particularly when it occurs in general terms, so that the parties involved can resolve the situation. (This is for older children in particular). Sometimes the children are given a list of phrases they can use to communicate what they see as bullying behaviour.

8. Teachers teach the Code of Behaviour in the school. They actively promote:

  • Good manners
  • Politeness
  1. Mutual respect and a caring attitude in class in
  • Pupil-pupil relationship.
  • Pupil-teacher relationship.
  1. A sense of responsibility in pupils is instilled.
  1. Teachers ensure there is a clear understanding among pupils of the types of behaviour that count as bullying in our school. Children learn school rules and why they are there. Incentives for good behaviour are used by teachers.
  2. Teachers work at raising the self-esteem of theclass and the self-esteem of individual children. We will use Circle Time as it is found that thisencourages co-operation between pupils andteachers and among the pupils themselves. Italso encourages honesty in reporting incidents of bullying.Through Circle Time self-esteem is heightened so that children aren’t as susceptible tobullying.

Dealing with bullying

  1. Teachers are advised to take a calm approach when dealing with incidents/reported incidents of bullying behaviour.
  2. The Principal is informed at an early stage.
  3. A teacher records in writing incidents of aggressive behaviour that may be construed as bullying, (see Code of Discipline)
  4. Parents are asked to inform class teacher if their child complains of being bullied.
  5. If incidents occur at school the teacher will make a professional decision as to when to inform parents of the bullied child.
  6. If a gang is involved it is usually advisable to talk to each member individually and as a group.
  7. If it is a first offence it should be made clear to the child that this type of behaviour is unacceptable and try to get him/her to see the hurt caused. Caution the child that if it occurs again the matter will have to be taken further.
  8. If it does happen again the child will be subjected to detention or extra written work, whichever is deemed more appropriate in the circumstances.
  9. If a serious matter occurs, or a child offends repeatedly, then a meeting with the child’s parents will be arranged and the parents made aware of the unacceptable behaviour of their child. Parents of all parties involved will be informed. If the parents do not co-operate, or if the matter remains unresolved it will then be referred to the Chairperson of the Board of Management of the school and subsequently, if necessary, to a meeting of the Board of Management.
  10. Failure by pupils to comply with the Code of Behaviour will incur the sanctions mentioned there.
  11. In certain cases it may be necessary to invite the assistance of other agencies such as General Practitioners, Gardaí, HSE ETC.

Awareness of Bullying will be done by

  1. Use of SPHE lessons
  2. Drama/Role playing
  3. ALIVE-O Religion Programme
  4. PE Team Work/ games
  5. Walk Tall Programme
  6. Stay Safe “Bullying” section
  7. Circle Time
  8. Curricular areas such as English Literature
  9. Co-operative and Collaborative Learning

This Policy was drawn up in 2003 and was subsequently reviewed by Anne Beechinor in November 2010

Anti Bullying Policy

Knockskeagh NS