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Anti-Bullying Policy 2022-2025

Anti-Bullying Policy

Policy details

  • Date created -01/03/2022
  • Date reviewed - 09/03/2024
  • Next review date - 09/03/2025
  • Policy owner - Louise Haywood [Penny Oaks]


This policy is based on DfE guidance “Preventing and Tackling Bullying” July 2017 and supporting documents. It also considers the DfE statutory guidance “Keeping Children Safe in Education” 2023 and Sexual violence and sexual harassment between children in schools and colleges guidance. The setting has also read Childnet’s “Cyberbullying: Understand, Prevent and Respond: Guidance for Schools”.

: www.gov.uk/government/publications/approaches-to-preventing-and-tackling-bullying

 

 

Policy objectives:

·     This policy outlines what Co-op Academy Penny Oaks will do to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying.

·     The policy has been adopted with the involvement of the whole school community.

·     Co-op Academy Penny Oaks is committed to developing an anti-bullying culture where the bullying of adults, children or young people is not tolerated in any form.

 

Links with other academy policies and practices

This policy links with several academy policies, practices and action plans including:

·    Behaviour policy

·    Complaints policy

·    Safeguarding policy

·    GDPR policy

·    Online safety and Acceptable Use Policies (AUP)

·    Social media policy

 

Links to legislation

There are several pieces of legislation which set out measures and actions for academies in response to bullying, as well as criminal and civil law. These may include (but are not limited to):

·    The Education and Inspection Act 2006, 2011

·    The Equality Act 2010

·    The Children Act 1989

·    Protection from Harassment Act 1997

·    The Malicious Communications Act 1988

·    Public Order Act 1986

Responsibilities

 It is the responsibility of:

·     The Headteacher to communicate this policy to the academy 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.

·     Governors to take a lead role in monitoring and reviewing this policy.

·     All staff, including: governors, senior leadership, teaching and non-teaching staff, to support, uphold and implement this policy accordingly.

·     Parents/carers to support their children and work in partnership with the academy.

·     Pupils to abide by the policy.

Definition of bullying

·     Bullying can be defined as “behaviour by an individual or a group, repeated over time that intentionally hurts another individual either physically or emotionally”. (DfE “Preventing and Tackling Bullying”, July 2017)

·   Bullying can include name calling, taunting, mocking, making offensive comments; kicking; hitting; taking belongings; producing offensive graffiti; gossiping; excluding people from groups and spreading hurtful and untruthful rumours.

·     This includes the same unacceptable behaviours expressed online, sometimes called online or cyberbullying. This can include: sending offensive, upsetting and inappropriate messages by phone, text, instant messenger, through gaming, websites, social media sites and apps, and sending offensive or degrading photos or videos.

·     Bullying is recognised by the academy as being a form of child on child abuse. It can be emotionally abusive and can cause severe and adverse effects on children’s emotional development.

Forms and types of bullying covered by this policy

Bullying can happen to anyone. This policy covers all types and forms of bullying including:

·   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

·   Sexual bullying

·   Bullying via technology, known as online or cyberbullying

·   Prejudicial bullying (against people/pupils with protected characteristics):

·   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

·   Bullying against teenage parents (pregnancy and maternity under the Equality Act)

Academy ethos

·   Co-op Academy Penny Oaks 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 academy can help to

    create a safe and disciplined environment, where pupils are able to learn and

    fulfil their potential.

 

Our Community:

·   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 the community to work with the academy to uphold the

    anti-bullying 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 the academy 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.

 

Responding to bullying

The following steps may be taken when dealing with all incidents of bullying reported to the academy:

 

·   If bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be dealt with

    immediately by the member of staff who has been approached or witnessed

    the concern.

·   The academy will provide appropriate support for the person being bullied –

   making sure they are not at risk of immediate harm and will involve them in any

    decision- making, as appropriate.

·  The Headteacher or Deputy Head/Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or

    another member of the leadership staff will interview all parties involved.

·    The DSL will be informed of all bullying issues where there are safeguarding concerns.

·  The academy will speak with and inform other staff members, where appropriate.

·    The academy will ensure parents/carers are kept informed about the concern and action taken, as appropriate and in line with child protection and confidentially policies.

·    Sanctions, as identified within the academy behaviour policy, and support will be implemented in consultation with all parties concerned.

·    If necessary, other agencies may be consulted or involved, such as the police, if a criminal offence has been committed, or other local services including early help or children’s social care, if a child is felt to be at risk of significant harm.

·    Where the bullying of or by pupils takes place off academy site or outside of normal academy hours (including cyberbullying), the academy will ensure that the concern is fully investigated. If required, the DSL will collaborate with other academies. Appropriate action will be taken, including providing support and implementing sanctions in the academy in accordance with this policy and the academy’s behaviour policy.

·   A clear and precise account of bullying incidents will be recorded by the academy in accordance with existing procedures. This will include recording appropriate details regarding decisions and action taken.

 

Cyberbullying

When responding to cyberbullying concerns, Co-op Academy Penny Oaks will:

·   Act as soon as an incident has been reported or identified.

·   Provide appropriate support for the person who has been cyberbullied and

    work with the person who has carried out the bullying to ensure that it does not

    happen again.

·   Encourage the person being bullied to keep any evidence (screenshots) of the

    bullying activity to assist any investigation.

·   Take all available steps where possible to identify the person responsible. This

    may include:

*  looking at use of the academy systems;

*  identifying and interviewing possible witnesses;

*  Contacting the service provider and the police, if necessary.

               ·   Work with the individuals and online service providers to prevent the incident

                   from spreading and assist in removing offensive or upsetting material from

                   circulation. This may include:

·     Support reports to a service provider to remove content if those involved are unable to be identified or if those involved refuse to or are unable to delete content.

·     Confiscating and searching pupils’ electronic devices, such as mobile phones, in accordance with the law and the academy searching and confiscation policy. ‘Searching, screening and confiscation at academy’ DFE 2022

·     Requesting the deletion of locally-held content and content posted online if they contravene academy behavioural policies.

·     Ensure that sanctions are applied to the person responsible for the cyberbullying; the academy will take steps to change the attitude and behaviour of the bully, as well as ensuring access to any additional help that they may need.

·     Inform the police if a criminal offence has been committed.

·     Provide information to staff and pupils regarding steps they can take to protect themselves online. This may include:

*  advising those targeted not to retaliate or reply;

*  providing advice on blocking or removing people from contact lists;

*  helping those involved to think carefully about what private information they may have in the public domain.

 

Supporting pupils

Pupils who have been bullied will be supported by:

 

·   Reassuring the pupil and providing continuous pastoral support.

·   Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with their teacher,

    the designated safeguarding lead, or a member of staff of their choice.

·   Being advised to keep a record of the bullying as evidence and discuss how to

    respond to concerns and build resilience as appropriate.

·   Working towards restoring self-esteem and confidence.

·   Providing ongoing support; this may include: working and speaking with staff,

    offering formal counselling, engaging with parents and carers.

·   Where necessary, working with the wider community and local/national

    organisations to provide further or specialist advice and guidance; this could

    include support through Early Help or Children Social Work Service, or support

    through the Children and Young People's Mental Health Service (CYPMHS).

 

Pupils who have perpetrated bullying will be helped by:

 

·   Discussing what happened, establishing the concern and the need to change.

·   Informing parents/carers to help change the attitude and behaviour of the child.

·   Providing appropriate education and support regarding their behaviour or

    actions.

·   If online, requesting that content be removed and reporting accounts/content to the service provider.

·   Sanctioning, in line with academy behaviour/discipline policy; this may

    include official warnings, detentions, internal exclusions and fixed-term or

    permanent exclusions.

·   Where necessary, working with the wider community and local/national

    organisations to provide further or specialist advice and guidance; this

    may include involvement from the Police or referrals to Early Help,

    Children Social Work Service, or the Children and Young People's Mental

    Health Service (CYPMHS).

 

Supporting adults

Co-op Academy Penny Oaks takes measures to prevent and tackle bullying among pupils; however, it is equally important to recognise that bullying of adults, including staff and parents, whether by pupils, parents or other staff members, is unacceptable.

Adults who have been bullied or affected will be supported by:

 

·   Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the concern with the

    designated safeguarding lead, a senior member of staff and/or the

    Headteacher.

·   Advising them to keep a record of the bullying as evidence and discuss how

    to respond to concerns and build resilience, as appropriate.

·   Where the bullying takes place off academy site or outside of normal

    academy hours (including online), the academy will still investigate the

    concern and ensure that appropriate action is taken in accordance with the

    academys’ behaviour and discipline policy.

·   Reporting offensive or upsetting content and/or accounts to the service

    provider, where the bullying has occurred online.

·   Reassuring and offering appropriate support.

·   Working with the wider community and local/national organisations to provide further or specialist advice and guidance.

 

Adults who have perpetrated the bullying will be helped by:

·   Discussing what happened with a senior member of staff and/or the

    Headteacher to establish the concern.

·   Establishing whether a legitimate grievance or concern has been raised and

    signposting to the academy’s official complaints procedures.

·   If online, requesting that content be removed.

·   Instigating disciplinary, civil or legal action as appropriate or required

 

Preventing bullying

Environment

Co-op Academy Penny Oaks will:

Create and support an inclusive environment which promotes a culture of mutual respect, consideration and care for others, which will be upheld by all.

·     Recognise that bullying can be perpetrated or experienced by any member of the community, including adults and children (peer on peer abuse).

·     Recognises the potential for children with SEND to be disproportionately impacted by bullying and will implement additional pastoral support as required.

·     Openly discuss differences between people that could motivate bullying, such as: children with different family situations, such as looked after children or those with caring responsibilities, religion, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexuality or appearance related difference.

·     Challenge practice and language (including ‘banter’) which does not uphold the academy values of tolerance, non-discrimination and respect towards others.

·     Be encouraged to use technology, especially mobile phones and social media, positively and responsibly.

·     Work with staff, the wider community and outside agencies to prevent and tackle concerns including all forms of prejudice-driven bullying.

·     Actively create “safe spaces” for vulnerable children and young people.

Policy and Support

Co-op Academy Penny Oaks will:

·     Provide a range of approaches for pupils, staff and parents/carers to access support and report concerns.

·     Regularly update and evaluate our practice to consider the developments of technology and provide up-to-date advice and education to all members of the community regarding positive online behaviour.

·     Take appropriate, proportionate and reasonable action, in line with existing academy policies, for any bullying brought to the academys’ attention, which involves or affects pupils, even when they are not on academy premises; for example, when using academy transport or online, etc.

·     Implement appropriate disciplinary sanctions; the consequences of bullying will reflect the seriousness of the incident, so that others see that bullying is unacceptable.

·     Use a variety of techniques to resolve the issues between those who bully, and those who have been bullied.

·     Celebrate success and achievements to promote and build a positive academy ethos.

Education and Training

Co-op Academy Penny Oaks will:

·         Train all staff, including: teaching staff, support staff (e.g. administration staff, lunchtime support staff and site support staff) and pastoral staff, to identify all forms of bullying and take appropriate action, following the academy’s policy and procedures, including recording and reporting incidents.

·         Consider a range of opportunities and approaches for addressing bullying throughout the curriculum and other activities, such as: through displays, assemblies, peer support, the academy/student council, etc.

·         Collaborate with other local educational settings as appropriate, and during key times of the year, for example during transition.

·         Ensure anti-bullying has a high profile throughout the year, reinforced through key opportunities such as anti-bullying week

·         Provide systematic opportunities to develop pupils’ social and emotional skills, including building their resilience and self-esteem.

 

Involvement of pupils

Co-op Academy Penny Oaks will:

·     Involve pupils in policy writing and decision making, to ensure that they understand the academy’s approach and are clear about the part they play in preventing bullying.

·     Regularly canvas children and young people’s views on the extent and nature of bullying.

·     Ensure that all pupils know how to express worries and anxieties about bullying.

·     Ensure that all pupils are aware of the range of sanctions which may be applied against those engaging in bullying.

·     Involve pupils in anti-bullying campaigns in academies and embed messages in the wider academy curriculum.

·     Utilise pupil voice in providing pupil led education and support

            ·     Publicise the details of internal support, as well as external helplines and

                  Websites.

            ·         Offer support to pupils who have been bullied and to those who are bullying to

                  address the problems they have.

Involvement and liaison with parents and carers

Co-op Academy Penny Oaks will:

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

·     Make sure that key information about bullying (including policies and named points of contact) is available to parents/carers in a variety of formats, including via the academy website

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

·     Work with all parents/carers and the local community to address issues beyond the academy gates that give rise to bullying.

·     Ensure that parents work with the academy to role model positive behaviour for pupils, both on and offline.

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

Monitoring and review: putting policy into practice

·      Co-op Academy Penny Oaks will ensure that they regularly monitor and

     evaluate mechanisms to ensure that the policy is being consistently applied.

·    Any issues identified will be incorporated into the academy’s action planning.

·    The headteacher will be informed of bullying concerns, as appropriate.

·    The named Governor for bullying will report on a regular basis to the governing body on incidents of bullying, including outcomes.

 

 

Useful links and supporting organisations

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

·         Childline: www.childline.org.uk

·         Family Lives: www.familylives.org.uk

·         Kidscape: www.kidscape.org.uk

·         MindEd: www.minded.org.uk

·         NSPCC: www.nspcc.org.uk

·         The BIG Award: www.bullyinginterventiongroup.co.uk/index.php

·         PSHE Association: www.pshe-association.org.uk

·         Restorative Justice Council: www.restorativejustice.org.uk

·         The Diana Award: www.diana-award.org.uk

·         Victim Support: www.victimsupport.org.uk

·         Young Minds: www.youngminds.org.uk

·         Young Carers: www.youngcarers.net

·         The Restorative Justice Council: www.restorativejustice.org.uk/restorative-practice- academys

 

SEND

·   Changing Faces: www.changingfaces.org.uk

·   Mencap: www.mencap.org.uk

·   Anti-Bullying Alliance Cyberbullying and children and young people with SEN

    and disabilities:

    www.cafamily.org.uk/media/750755/cyberbullying_and_send_-_module_final.pdf

·   DfE: SEND code of practice: www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of- practice-0-to-25

 

Cyberbullying

   

·  Childnet: www.childnet.com

·  Internet Watch Foundation: www.iwf.org.uk

·  Think U Know: www.thinkuknow.co.uk

·  UK Safer Internet Centre: www.saferinternet.org.uk

·  The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS)

www.gov.uk/government/groups/uk-council-for-child-internet-safety-ukccis

·     DfE ‘Cyberbullying: advice for headteachers and academy staff’: www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying

·     DfE ‘Advice for parents and carers on cyberbullying’: www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying

 

Race, religion and nationality

·   Anne Frank Trust: www.annefrank.org.uk

·   Kick it Out: www.kickitout.org

·   Report it: www.report-it.org.uk

·   Stop Hate: www.stophateuk.org

·   Tell Mama:www.tellmamauk.org

·   Educate against Hate: www.educateagainsthate.com

·   Show Racism the Red Card: www.srtrc.org/educational

 

LGBT

·     Barnardo’s LGBT Hub: www.barnardos.org.uk/what_we_do/our_work/lgbtq.htm

·     Metro Charity: www.metrocentreonline.org

·     EACH: www.eachaction.org.uk

·     Proud Trust: www.theproudtrust.org

·     Academys Out: www.academys-out.org.uk

·     Stonewall: www.stonewall.org.uk

Sexual harassment and sexual bullying

 

Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAW) www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk

 

A Guide for Academys: www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/data/files/resources/71/EVAW- Coalition-Academys-Guide.pdf

 

Disrespect No Body: www.gov.uk/government/publications/disrespect-nobody- campaign-posters

Anti-bullying Alliance: Preventing and responding to Sexual Bullying: www.anti- bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/all-about-bullying/sexual-and-gender- related/preventing-and-responding-sexual

 

Anti-bullying Alliance: advice for academy staff and professionals about developing effective anti-bullying practice in relation to sexual bullying: www.anti- bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/all-about-bullying/sexual-and-gender-related

 

www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying