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Anti- Bullying Policy – Shanbally N.S.
Aims
Definition of bullying (what is bullying)
Bullying is a repeated form of abuse, often planned; verbal, psychological or physical and conducted by an individual or group against others – Dept. of Education Guidelines.
The main type of bullying, identified by pupils, parents and teachers are:
Verbal: Name calling, threatening gestures, insulting family members, mocking others difference, e.g. colour, appearance, intelligence, size.
Physical: E.g., hitting, kicking and tripping
Isolation: Excluding a person deliberately from a group in the yard/ classroom/ at games.
Passing around insulting notes or drawings.
Taking or damaging someone’s property e.g. clothes, school books, lunches, contents of pencil cases etc.
Any other behaviour that repeatedly causes upset to another child.
Procedure for Dealing with Bullying
Pupil should report to class teacher or trusted adult e.g. parent, other teacher, sibling who then reports to class teacher/ Principal.
All reports of bullying will be investigated and dealt with.
The class teacher/Principal will adopt the following approach:
Inform parents on both sides that an assessment / investigation of the allegation is ongoing.
Talk to the child allegedly being bullied to ascertain the type, exact nature, occasion(s) etc. in order to assess the complaint.
Talk to the person(s) being named as displaying bullying behaviour. Look for explanations and analysis of this behaviour.
Bullying will be sanctioned according to the Code of Behaviour and Discipline.
Report back, as soon as possible, to the person who reported the incident.
Serious cases will be referred to the Principal or Deputy Principal as appropriate.
Offer advice and support to victim.
Offer advice and counselling to effect changes, and enable recognition of the hurt that is caused by bullying behaviour, to those who bully.
Organise a reconciliation and repair conference between those being bullied and those who are bullying.
Report result of the process to both sets of parents.
Strategy for those being bullied in School
Inform the class teacher, principal, parent or any staff member immediately
Name the person(s) responsible for alleged bullying.
If your child has been found to have been bullying or party to bullying behaviour:
Attend a meeting at the school with class teacher/principal
Support the sanctions set by the school in line with the code of behaviour and discipline.
Prevention/ Raising Awareness
Ongoing, structured programmes for pupils on bullying are provided in the Stay Safe, Walk Tall, and R.S.E. programmes covered in the school
Poster/ drawing, slogan competitions
Sessions/ Talks on bullying are part of normal lessons in class.
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Shanbally NS Anti-Bullying Charter
“Every pupil in Shanbally NS has the right to enjoy his or her learning and leisure, free from intimidation, both in the school and on school related activities. Our school community will not tolerate any unkind remarks or actions, even if these were not intended to hurt. Pupils should support each other by reporting all instances of bullying. Bullying will be taken very seriously. We are a ‘telling’ school – bullying is too important to ignore it.”