Anti-Bullying Parents’ Evening

20th November 2014

Aims of tonight’s session

• To look at the context of bullying in schools today.

• To understand how the school responds to bullying and become familiar with the Anti-Bullying Policy.

• To give practical strategies to parents on how to talk about bullying at home and help children develop resilience.

• To seek parental feedback about how the school tackles bullying.

Part 1: • Presentation by Headteacher:

– What is bullying? – How does the school deal with bullying? – How can parents support their child? – Media clip: Listening to your child

Part 2: • Forum and feedback: Please spend some time talking to staff who on the following foci: Building Resilience in Children – Actions for Happiness

here4u@pontelandcoates.northumberland.sch.uk for reporting bullying to school Cyberbullying – protecting your children at home Understanding appropriate v inappropriate Talking and listening to your child about bullying Perceptions of Bullying Using literature and books with bullying themes School response to bullying and parental input Our School Anti-Bullying Policy Parental feedback – tell us what you think Helping children to cope with anxiety

Bullying Facts and Statistics

• As many as 70% of all young people have experienced some form of bullying and 1 million kids are bullied every week, inside and outside of school (Young Minds).

• At any one time 1: 5 children are being bullied and 1:5 children are bullying others (Bully Blocking Evelyn Field)

• 45,000 children talked to ChildLine last year about bullying.

• 4,500 children talked to ChildLine about cyber bullying last year.

What is bullying?

• “Bullying is a symptom of a dysfunctional social system.” (E Field 2011)

• Bullying is behaviour which deliberately makes another person feel uncomfortable, distressed or threatened. Bullying is repeated over time. Bullying makes those being bullied feel powerless to defend themselves.

• S.T.O.P.

• It typically has seven elements:-

• An initial desire to hurt

• The desire is expressed in action

• Someone is hurt either physically or emotionally

• There is an imbalance of power – real or perceived

• It is without justification

• It is typically repeated

• There is evident enjoyment by those who bully.

Where does bullying happen?

• In any school, poor or wealthy, private or state, small or large, religious or non-religious, conservative, traditional or progressive, boarding schools and day schools.

• Classroom, the playground, canteen, toilets, lockers, sporting facilities, changing rooms, corridors, lunch hall.

• Travelling to and from school, at after school care, in clubs e.g. Scouts, Guides, Karate, playgrounds, shopping centres, discos, HOME

• Cyberspace – chat rooms, bulletin boards, emails, text messages, websites, social media, X Box

What do we do?

• Creating a culture or care and respect.

• Teaching essential skills and encouraging the development of characteristics such as social skills, resilience, assertiveness.

• Early intervention and help – support for vulnerable children.

• Tackling incidents bullying behaviour swiftly and directly – appropriately.

• Share information with the right people.

Culture: Christian values embedded in the curriculum

Supporting the local community - RESPECT

Archbishop Youth Trust Young Leaders’ Award

Celebrating different cultures – and learning from them

Understanding mental health issues…..and supporting local heroes.

Helping Others – Feels Good

Team Building and Trust

Promoting Knowledge and Understanding

Shared Focus and Pride

And Positive Engagement in Learning

Culture : Building Self-Esteem and Celebrating Individuals

Putting extra help in the right place

Day in the Life of A School Called Here

An incident on X-box at home during the weekend where homophobic language was used in a derogatory way. An email from a parent sharing concern over swearing and name calling on the bus. A parent arrives into school wishing to see a teacher about a friendship issue which began at a group sleepover using Snap Chat and Instagram. The child won’t come into school and is waiting in the car. Someone’s packed lunch box is missing. There has been a scuffle in the yard at playtime over a tackle in football. An offensive picture is posted on Facebook with a derogatory post about a Year 8 girl. An incident in the PE changing room at the end of a Games lesson

RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES IN SCHOOL FOR REPORTING BULLYING

Child is bullied

If continues

If continues

If continues

Step 1a

Self referral by student using a

‘Blue box’ or incident sheet

Step 1b

Student personally approaches:

Buddy/Peer Mentor

Form Tutor

Class Teacher

Non Teaching trusted member of the

school community

Support Staff

Step 4

Senior member of staff (with anti-bullying responsibility)

Directs to a variety of help strategies delivered by ‘trained’ personnel eg.

Restorative justice

Mediation/counselling

Anger management training & self help

Peer Mentor/Buddy support

External Agencies – LIST / YISP

Circle of friends

Step 5 Headteacher/Deputy Headteacher inform/seek advice from LA

Head of Inclusion services

Step 3

Designated adult

Discussion/Interview with all parties

Will use: suggested and agreed actions/strategies

Parents informed

Short term review

Step 2

Student meets with form/class teacher

Discussion on the facts

Suggested ways forward

Short review time

Cyber Bullying

• Control of mobile devices in school • Policy Central and web filters • Acceptable Use Policy • Explicit teaching though Computing curriculum and Life

Skills • Assemblies • Focusing on the development of skills and attributes such

responsibility, risk assessment and risk management, communication, empathy and resilience

• Parental support – essential parents monitor their child’s use at home and apply parental controls on all systems.

Refuse to Be a Victim

• Encourage confidence

• Resilience

• Friendships – appropriate

• Encourage assertiveness

• Don’t allow them to be powerless – give them control

• The power of a group

• Protection - Take them out of danger

Helping Your Child • Listen – really listen

• Don’t act outside of your child’s trust

• Decide how to act rationally – head not heart

• Problem solve it with them

• Empower them – it reaps confidence

We can easily turn this………

into this!

Seeking Help from School

• Ideally encourage your child to seek help

• Encourage your child to report bullying incidents straight away – the right person at the right time

• Phone school – child’s form tutor ideally

• Come in to talk

• Planner

here4u@pontelandcoates.northumberland.

sch.uk

Trust Us!

Moving on – years together

• RESPECT – for everyone by listening to other opinions and learning to value them

• RESPONSIBILTY - taking responsibility for your own actions

• REPAIR – developing the skills within our school community so that its individual members have the necessary skills to identify solutions that repair harm and ensure behaviours are not repeated

Our Christian Values

Outstanding – Behaviour and Safety of Pupils

“Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. Rare instances of bullying are dealt with effectively and pupils feel safe.” (Ofsted 2013)