Anti-Bullying - North Curry Primary School

North Curry C of E Primary School believes that all pupils are entitled to learn in a safe and supportive environment in line with our school vision and values; this means being free from all forms of bullying behaviour including cyberbullying. We belong to the United Against Bullying programme which is the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s whole-school anti-bullying programme. It supports schools to reduce bullying and improve the wellbeing of all children, focusing on those most at risk. All staff, parents and pupils work together to prevent and reduce any instances of bullying at the school. There is a zero-tolerance policy for bullying at the school.

What is Bullying?

The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to face or online (cyberbullying).

Learning to understand and manage conflict is an important part of growing up. Bullying is not simply a ‘falling out’. Research shows that experiencing bullying can have a significant impact on a child’s life well into adulthood. To ensure we are able to prevent bullying, act quickly when it takes place and avoid misidentifying bullying, it is vital that schools and other settings have a shared definition of bullying. This should be understood by the whole school or setting including parents, young people and all staff.

https://youtu.be/XHPGU4EPLvc

Bullying behaviour can be:

Physical – pushing, poking, kicking, hitting, biting, pinching etc.
Verbal – name calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, threats, teasing, belittling.
Emotional – isolating others, tormenting, hiding books, threatening gestures, ridicule, humiliation, intimidating, excluding, manipulation and coercion.
Sexual – unwanted physical contact, inappropriate touching, abusive comments, homophobic abuse, exposure to inappropriate films etc.
Online/cyber – posting on social media, sharing photos, sending nasty text messages, social exclusion, being mean or rude to someone in an online game, spreading secrets or rumours about people online.
Indirect – Can include the exploitation of individuals.

Signs of bullying

• Being frightened to travel to or from school

• Asking to be driven to school

• Unwillingness to attend school

• Truancy

• Becoming anxious or lacking confidence

• Saying that they feel ill in the morning

• Decreased involvement in schoolwork

• Returning home with torn clothes or damaged possessions

• Missing possessions

• Missing dinner money

• Asking for extra money or stealing

• Cuts or bruises

• Lack of appetite

• Unwillingness to use the internet or mobile devices

• Becoming agitated when receiving calls or text messages

• Lack of eye contact

• Becoming short tempered

• Change in behaviour and attitude at home

Reporting Bullying

You should report bullying to your school in the first place – or someone you trust if it happens outside school, for example in a club or online.

Please report any bullying concerns via this online form – click here. Alternatively, contact Mrs Morley, Ms Harris or the Class Teacher to report concerns or email office@nc.huish.education. If a concern relates specifically to cyberbulling, please contact Miss Bown.

Pupils can report by using;

Classroom Worry Boxes

Visit to the Yellow Room

Classroom Check ins (twice daily with class teacher)

Tell the police if the bullying involves a crime.