SchoolName

Lake Illawarra South Public School

Anti-bullying Plan Review Date: March 2020

The Anti-Bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education and Communities Student Welfare Directorate Page 1

School Anti-bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education and Communities Student Welfare Directorate Page 2

Our School Anti-Bullying Plan

Our School Anti-Bullying Plan

This plan outlines the processes for preventing and responding to student bullying in our school and reflects the Bullying: Preventing and Responding to Student Bullying in Schools Policy of the New South Wales Department of Education and Communities.

Statement of purpose

The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (December 2008) states that Schools play a vital role in promoting the intellectual, physical, social, emotional, moral, spiritual and aesthetic development and wellbeing of young Australians Young people must be equipped with the knowledge, understanding, skills and values to take advantage of opportunity and to face the challenges of this era with confidence.

At Lake Illawarra South Primary School, we believe that all members of the community have the right to a learning and work environment free from intimidation, humiliation and hurt. We all share a responsibility to foster, promote and restore positive relationships. We believe that bullying is unacceptable and we (students, staff and parents) all share a responsibility for preventing it. This procedure builds on the school’s welfare, PBL and BRAVE policies to provide clear procedures and strategies to prevent, reduce and respond to bullying.

Protection 1. What is bullying? Bullying is repeated verbal, physical, social or psychological behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons.

Cyberbullying refers to bullying through information and communication technologies.

Bullying can involve humiliation, domination, intimidation, victimisation and all forms of harassment.

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term effects on those involved including bystanders.

Bullying is a deliberate act of aggression causing embarrassment, fear, pain or discomfort to another.

Bullying is an abuse of power and is planned and organised.

2. Some examples of bullying include: • any form of physical violence such as hitting, pushing or spitting on others • interfering with another’s property by stealing, hiding, damaging or

destroying it • using offensive names, teasing or spreading rumours about others or

their families • using put-downs, belittling others’ abilities and achievements • writing offensive notes or graffiti about others • making degrading comments about another’s culture, colour, religious or

social background • hurtfully excluding others from a group • making suggestive comments or other forms of sexual abuse • ridiculing another’s appearance • forcing others to act against their will

The Anti-Bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education and Communities Student Welfare Directorate Page 3

• inappropriate emails, texting, phone calls or social networking using technology.

3. How students may be affected if they are bullied: • may feel frightened, unsafe, embarrassed, angry or unfairly treated • work, sleep and ability to concentrate may suffer • relationships with family, friends and staff may deteriorate • may feel confused, helpless and not know what to do about the problem • may not want to come to school.

4. What do we do to prevent bullying at Lake Illawarra South Public School?

Schools exist in a society where incidents of bullying behaviour may occur. Preventing and responding to bullying behaviour in learning and working environments is a shared responsibility of all staff, students, parents, caregivers and members of the wider school community.

All members of the school community contribute to the preventing bullying by modelling and promoting appropriate behaviour and respectful relationships.

As a school learning community, we will not allow cases of bullying to go unreported but will speak up.

5. Responsibilities of the school School staff has a responsibility to:

• model appropriate behaviour. • fully understand their obligations to maintain student wellbeing

including protecting children from bullying in line with DEC policy documents.

• actively promote the Lake Illawarra South Public School PBL initiatives.

• explicitly teach about bullying through the implementation of a systematic K-6 PDHPE curriculum.

• take positive action to stop the bullying when they observe an incident.

• document information on SENTRAL and pass on information about any reported or observed bullying behaviours to the classroom teacher and supervisor for further action.

• communicate incidences of bullying during the Student Wellbeing item on the agenda at the weekly Communication Meeting.

• provide ongoing support for students involved in bullying with systematic tracking and monitoring .

Students have a responsibility to:

• behave appropriately, respecting individual differences and diversity. • behave as responsible digital citizens. • follow the school Anti-bullying Plan. • behave as responsible bystanders. • report incidents of bullying according to their school Anti-bullying

Plan.

Parents and caregivers have a responsibility to:

• support their children to become responsible citizens and to develop responsible on-line behavior.

• be aware of the school Anti-bullying Plan and assist their children in understanding bullying behavior.

• support their children in developing positive responses to incidents of bullying consistent with the school Anti-bullying Plan.

• report incidents of school related bullying behaviour to the school.

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• work collaboratively with the school to resolve incidents of bullying when they occur.

All members of the school community have the responsibility to:

• model and promote positive relationships that respect and accept individual differences and diversity within the school community.

• support the school’s Anti-bullying Plan through words and actions. • work collaboratively with the school to resolve incidents of bullying

when they occur.

Prevention At Lake Illawarra South Public School we adopt the following strategies to prevent bullying:

• A whole school focus on positive behaviour for learning that enables the school to be proactive in the prevention and intervention of bullying.

• Explicit teaching of positive behaviours embedded within the curriculum and school wide positive behaviour intervention strategies for engagement and learning including visiting performances. The values of Safety, Respect and Responsibility underpin our school rules and models of behaviour.

• Explicit teaching about identifying bullying and working towards eliminating bullying including a K-6 PDHPE focus on bullying where students are taught how to identify bullying and what to do if they are being bullied or if they witness incidents of bullying. Teaching about bullying includes teaching the importance of, and ways to create and sustain a safe and supportive school community.

• Explicit teaching of five strategies under the acronym BRAVE that are taught within whole school context and help to empower students to respond to bullying situations. Students are taught: Be calm, Respect

yourself and tell them to stop, Attempt to ignore Violence is not the answer and Express their feelings.

• Student led programs such as the Student Representive Council (SRC), buddy programs and potential leader roles help to create a community of inclusiveness and respect for the individual and reinforce concepts of ‘Bullying – No Way!’

• Anti-bullying messages are embedded into each curriculum area and in every year level focusing on diversity, difference, self and belonging, culture and society.

• Clearly communicated expectations for all areas of the school; in the classroom, playground and at assemblies. Posters prominently displayed around the school to teach and inform about the school wellbeing goals. Students are rewarded for following school values and an effective discipline policy is in place for not following these values.

• Vigilant classroom, playground and transition supervision. Teachers actively supervise children at all times. Teachers note supervisory duties for the day and turn up promptly to duty. Teachers are asked to move around designated area regularly and wear a pink vest to ensure they are clearly visible to children. Teachers monitor children sitting on the buddy bench and encourage students to initiate play and conversations with peers.

• Provision of safe and structured playground spaces and activities at break times. Students have access to a variety of games, activities and equipment during break times.

Early Intervention

The following measures will be taken: • Classroom management and positive reinforcement programs • Behaviour support for students identified by classroom teacher • Friendship group sessions and social skills support from Learning Support

Team and School Counsellor

The Anti-Bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education and Communities Student Welfare Directorate Page 5

• Referral to the Learning Support Team for access to support and counseling

Response

If bullying or harassment occurs, the following actions should be taken. • Incident to be reported immediately to any staff member by students

and/or parent. • Incident will be investigated by Executive staff and recorded. • Consequences for the perpetrators of clearly substantiated bullying

behaviour will be imposed as outlined in the school’s behaviour code. • If necessary, procedures outlined in the DoE’s Suspension and Expulsion

of School Students Procedures will be implemented. Responding to Reported Incidence of Bullying

• Students involved speak with Executive staff about incident. • If clearly substantiated, and depending on the nature of the incident, the

students’ parents will be contacted and a warning given of the consequences for further incidences.

• If it is noted that a student is repeatedly perpetrating bullying behaviours, a behaviour support plan will be developed in consultation with parents.

• In the case of cyber-bullying initiated through school accounts, the student may have their DoE account blocked for a period determined by the Principal - subsequent consequences for this behaviour determined in line with the school’s Welfare Plan.

• Inform other staff of the incident. • Monitor the behaviour of students involved. • If the child continues to bully, make an appointment to speak to the

parent/carer. Remind them of the policy and ask for their cooperation in assisting the school to modify the behaviour. Develop an intensive behaviour plan if necessary.

• If bullying behaviour does not stop, student may be suspended as per the school’s Welfare Plan and DoE policy documents.

• Victims of bullying will have access to School Counsellor for support if the need exists or the student and/or parent requests it.

Reporting Instances of Cyber-bullying

If students are being harassed online, they are encouraged to take the following actions immediately:

• Tell a trusted adult. This can be a teacher, parent, older sibling or

grandparent – someone who can help do something about it. • Block the sender’s messages. Never reply to harassing messages. • Keep a record. Save any harassing messages and record the time and date

that you received them. • If the bullying includes physical threats, tell the police.

Students who are not being bullied but are aware of others who are, are encouraged to report it, to protect those that are being bullied and so that the bully can be helped too.

Evaluation The plan and strategies put in place will be evaluated on an ongoing basis by student welfare team, learning and support team and Executive staff. It will be formally reviewed at least once every three years by LISPS staff and the P&C.

Additional Information Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 Life Line: 13 11 14

Principal’s comment

Lake Illawarra South Public School is an inclusive environment. The school openly celebrates diversity and individual student differences are respected and valued. The views, values and beliefs of parents, caregivers, and students are reflected in this policy and therefore central to its success.

School Anti-bullying Plan – NSW Department of Education and Communities Student Welfare Directorate Page 6

Committee Members

Jacqui Piggott Principal

Jacqui Koerner Assistant Principal

Mel Gibson Dean Assistant Principal

Anne Thomas School Counsellor

School contact information Lake Illawarra South Public School

119-129 Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra 2528

Ph: 4295 1924

Fax: 4297 2803

Email: lakeillaws-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Web: lakeillaws-p.schools.nsw.edu.au