NEW PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL

Anti Bullying Policy

Approved by: Trust Board Date:

Last reviewed: March 2023
Next review due: Date: March 2025
 Introduction and School Ethos

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead and Pastoral Care Manager is

Mr Rob Povey
Our Deputy DSL is Mrs Kelly Ann Poulson

At New Park Primary School, we work together to prevent bullying by creating and
supporting an inclusive environment which promotes a culture of mutual respect,
consideration and care for others, which will be upheld by all. Children are supported and
guided to become independent, critical thinkers who are encouraged to be accepting of all
differences.

Our values of respect, teamwork, passion, determination, self-belief and honesty underpin
all that we do within our school and help to guide positive behaviour.

We understand that bullies and victims do not come in standard shapes and sizes and we
support children in speaking up. We adopt the approach of ‘it could happen here’ and
accept that there is no particular age group or kind of school, which is at risk - or free of risk.

In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, it is essential that our school:

• Eliminates unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct

prohibited by the Act;

• Advances equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic

and people who do not share it; and

• Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people
who do not share it.

New Park 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
happy environment, where pupils are able to learn and fulfil their potential.

Our Community:

• Understands the importance of challenging inappropriate behaviours between

peers.
• 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 our community to work with the school to uphold the
antibullying 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 our school 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.

Overview

DfE guidance defines bullying as actions that are meant to be hurtful, and which happen on
a regular basis. Bullying can be direct (either physical or verbal) or indirect (for example,
being ignored or not spoken to or via the Internet). Bullying can be linked to race, gender or
sexual orientation. It is a Government requirement that all schools have an anti-bullying
policy. In 2012 Ofsted published No place for bullying. This was followed by DfE guidance
for schools: Preventing and Tackling Bullying 2017. This policy reflects this guidance.

Summary:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attach
ment_data/file/413239/No_place_for_bullying_-_summary_leaflet.pdf

Aims

Bullying is wrong and damages individual children. We therefore do all we can to prevent it,
by developing a whole school ethos in which bullying is regarded as unacceptable.

In this context we aim:

- To produce a consistent school-wide response to any bullying incidents that may occur

- To produce a safe and secure environment for all our children, and staff, in ensuring
measures are in place to minimise the likelihood of bullying

- To make all those connected with the school aware of our opposition to bullying, and
aware of their responsibilities with regard to the eradication of bullying in our school, for all
stakeholders
Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of:

o The headteacher to communicate this policy to our school community, to ensure that
disciplinary measures are applied fairly, consistently and reasonably, and that a member of
the senior leadership team has been identified to take overall responsibility.

o Trustees to take a lead role in monitoring and reviewing this policy.

o All staff, including trustees, senior leadership, teaching and non-teaching staff, to support,
uphold and implement this policy accordingly.

o Parents/carers to support their children and work in partnership with the school.

o Pupils to abide by the policy.

What is Bullying?

The Department for Education define bullying as deliberately hurtful behaviour that is
repeated often over a period of time. It is difficult for those who are being bullied to defend
themselves.

New Park Primary School believes that bullying is the wilful, conscious desire to hurt or
threaten or frighten someone else, which is repeated over a period of time. To do this, the
bully has to have some sort of power over the victim, a power not always recognisable to
the teacher or the parents. All bullying is aggression, physical, verbal or psychological.

All the staff at New Park Primary School deplore all forms of bullying and will deal with
incidents in the appropriate manner. Any incidents of bullying will be recorded and
monitored. Parents will be informed of serious incidents and the action taken to deal with
them when they happen.

Bullying can happen to anyone. This policy covers all types and forms of bullying including
but not limited to:

§ Bullying related to physical appearance

§ Bullying of young carers, children in care or otherwise related to home
circumstances
§ Bullying related to physical/mental health conditions
§ Physical bullying
§ Emotional bullying
§ Sexualised bullying/harassment
§ Bullying via technology, known as online bullying or cyberbullying
§ Prejudiced-based and discriminatory bullying (against people/pupils with protected
characteristics) which may include:
- Bullying related to race, religion, faith and belief and for those without faith
- Bullying related to ethnicity, nationality or culture
 - Bullying related to Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND)
- Bullying related to sexual orientation (homophobic/biphobic bullying)
- Gender based bullying, including transphobic bullying

Victims may become withdrawn, depressed children, strangers to their family. They may
express a desire to move schools; or may have difficulty in facing coming to school, may be
late, erratic in attendance, feign illness and eventually become school refusers. There may
be deterioration of work, general unhappiness, anxiety or fear, unexplained cuts scratches
and bruises or unexplained missing possessions.

We recognise that some groups of pupils may be more vulnerable to bullying, including:

• Looked After Children

• Children having caring responsibilities
• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children
• Children with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND)
• Children from ethnic minorities
• Children entitled to Free School Meals Children for whom English is an Additional
Language
• Children who are perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual
• Those suffering from health problems, including mental health.

Anti-Bullying Procedures

If any member of staff is made aware of an act of bullying, they will refer it to the
appropriate class teacher.

If a class teacher is made aware of an act of bullying they will immediately investigate it
themselves. This may involve pastoral support for the victim of the bullying and restorative
reflections for the child who has carried out the bullying.

Time is spent talking to the child who has bullied, encouraging them to identify their motive,
considering the impact of their actions on those affected and identifying what change needs
to happen to make things right and ensure this behaviour is not repeated in future.

In more serious, or repetitive cases, teachers refer incidents onto the Phase Leader, Pastoral
Care Manager, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Head or the Head Teacher, who will follow
the same procedure and record the incident and outcome.

Parents of all children involved will be informed of what has happened and how it has been
dealt with. This could be through a phone call, face-to-face conversation or a message.

If a child is repeatedly involved in bullying other children, we invite the child’s parents into
school to discuss the situation and the steps to be taken to address the issue. In more
extreme cases, where these procedures have proven ineffective, the Head Teacher will
consult with the Inclusion / SEND coordinator and may contact external support agencies.
Involvement and Liaison with Parents and Carers

At New Park Primary School, we will:

o Take steps to involve parents and carers in develop policies and procedures, to ensure
they are aware that the school does not tolerate any form of bullying.

o Ensure all parents/carers know who to contact if they are worried about bullying and
where to access independent advice.

o Ensure that parents work with our school to role model positive behaviour for pupils, both
on and offline.

o Ensure all parents/carers know about our complaints procedure and how to use it
effectively, to raise concerns in an appropriate manner.

Complaints

If parent/carers are not satisfied with the school’s response, they should contact the head
teacher. If they remain dissatisfied, they should follow the school’s complaints procedure.

Outcomes

Incidents of bullying are few. When such incidents occur, they are responded to promptly.
Our school works effectively to address any concerns so that all children feel safe and all
parents have confidence in our school’s systems.

Monitoring, evaluation and review

Incidents of bullying are monitored through: The school’s behaviour tracking log and the
head teacher’s report to trustees. The School Leadership and the Trustees monitor the
effectiveness, efficiency and impact of this policy bi-annually.

Useful links and organisations

The following links may provide additional support to children, staff or families.

• Anti-Bullying Alliance: www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

• Childline: www.childline.org.uk
• NSPCC: www.nspcc.org.uk
• PSHE Association: www.pshe-association.org.uk
• The Diana Award: www.diana-award.org.uk
• Childnet: www.childnet.com
• UK Safer Internet Centre: www.saferinternet.org.uk
• Anne Frank Trust: www.annefrank.org.uk
• Educate against Hate: www.educateagainsthate.com
• Show Racism the Red Card: www.srtrc.org/educational LGBTQ+
• Barnardo’s LGBTQ Hub: www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/our_work/lgbtq.htm

• Proud Trust: www.theproudtrust.org

• Rainbow Flag Award (YPAS) https://www.rainbowflagaward.co.uk/recommended-
resources/

Sexual Harrassment and Bullying

• NSPCC ‘Report Abuse in Education’ Helpline: 0800 136 663 or [email protected]

• Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAW):www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk
• Childnet Advice (Online Sexual Harassment and Bullying): https://www.childnet.com/help-
and-advice/online-sexual-harassment/