Anti-Bullying Policy

1. The relevant teacher(s) for investigating and dealing with bullying are as follows:

A pupil or parent may bring a bullying concern to any teacher in the school. Individual teachers must take appropriate measures regarding reports of bullying behaviour in accordance with the school’s anti-bullying policy.

The relevant teacher responsible for investigating and dealing with/resolving bullying incidents will be the class teacher or class teachers of the pupils involved.

The relevant teacher or teachers should keep the principal teacher/ deputy principal informed of incidents and of progress being made to resolve these.

Where the relevant teacher is concerned that the gravity of the situation warrants immediate action from the principal, he/she should initially consult with the principal/deputy principal.

If it is agreed that the seriousness of the bullying behaviour warrants it, the principal/deputy principal will assume the role of relevant teacher to investigate the bullying behaviour.

·         The fostering and enhancing of the self-esteem of all our pupils through both curricular and extracurricular activities. Pupils will be provided with opportunities to develop a positive sense of self-worth through formal and informal interactions.

·         Whole staff professional development on bullying to ensure that all staff develops an awareness of what bullying is, how it impacts on pupils’ lives and the need to respond to it-prevention and intervention.

·         Supervision and monitoring of classrooms, corridors, school grounds, school tours and extra- curricular activities. Non-teaching and ancillary staff will be encouraged to be vigilant and report issues to relevant teachers. Supervision will also apply to monitoring student use of communication technology within the school.

·         Buddy system, mentoring, Lunchtime Pals and other student support activities that can help to support pupils and encourage a culture of peer respect and support.

·         Development and promotion of an Anti-Bullying code for the school-to is included in School Booklet and displayed publicly in classrooms and in common areas of the school.

·         The school’s anti-bullying policy is discussed with pupils and all parent(s)/guardian(s)s are made aware that it is available to view or download on the school website .

·         Encourage a culture of telling, with particular emphasis on the importance of bystanders. In that way pupils will gain confidence in ‘telling’. This confidence factor is of vital importance. It should be made clear to all pupils that when they report incidents of bullying they are not considered to be telling tales but are behaving responsibly.

·         Identify clear protocols to encourage parent(s)/guardian(s) to approach the school if they suspect that their child is being bullied. The protocol should be developed in consultation with parents.

·         The development of an Acceptable Use Policy in the school to include the necessary steps to ensure that the access to technology within the school is strictly monitored.

Implementation of curricula

·         The full implementation of the SPHE and CSPE curricula and the RSE and Stay Safe Programmes.

·          Continuous Professional Development for staff in delivering these programmes.

·         Delivery of the Garda SPHE Programmes at primary and post- primary level. These lessons, delivered by Community Gardai, cover issues around personal safety and cyber-bullying

·         The school will specifically consider the additional needs of SEN pupils with regard to programme implementation and the development of skills and strategies to enable all pupils to respond appropriately.

·         The school will implement the advice in “Sexual Orientation advice for schools” (RSE Primary, see booklet).

               Links to other policies

·         List school policies, practices and activities that are particularly relevant to bullying, e.g. Code of Behaviour, Child Protections policy, Supervision of pupils, Acceptable Use policy, Attendance, Sporting activities.

Procedures re Bullying Behaviour: The school’s procedures for investigation, follow-up

and recording of bullying behaviour and the established intervention strategies used by

the school for dealing with cases of bullying behaviour are as follows:

The School Recognises that:

·         early intervention is crucial;

·         a calm, unemotional problem-solving approach should be adopted;

·         incidents are best investigated outside the classroom situation;

·         humiliation of victim or bully should be avoided at all costs;

·         interviews should be conducted with sensitivity and with due regard to the rights of all pupils concerned;

·         other pupils can sometimes provide useful information;

·         dealing effectively with conflict in a non-aggressive manner is setting an example for pupils;

·         parental input and co-operation is valuable;

·         both victim and bully need help.

Investigation of Bullying:

·         All interviews will take place outside the classroom situation with due regard to child

protection measures e.g. door to office/room will be left open.

·         A written record of discussions will be kept (see Appendix 4; Incident record Sheet)

and the pupil may be asked to give his own written account, if this is appropriate.

·         If a group is involved, pupils will be interviewed individually and then the group will be met together, where each will be asked to give his account. Each member of a group will be helped to handle the possible pressures that often face them from other members after interview by teacher/Principal.

·         If it is concluded that a pupil has engaged in bullying behavior, it will be made clear to him that he is in breach of the schools Code of Behaviour and Discipline.

·         Efforts will be made to assist the pupil in seeing the situation from the victim’s point of view.

·         In cases where bullying behaviour has occurred, parents/guardians of the two parties involved will be contacted. They will be referred to this school policy. Action being taken and the reason for it will be explained to them and ways in which they can reinforce or support the school action will be explored.

Follow Up:

·         Follow-up contact with the two parties may be organised to take place within one month of the investigation. The possible therapeutic effect of a bringing together of victim and bully at a future date will be considered if the victim is ready and agreeable to do so.

·         Following any incident of bullying, the school recognises that issues relating to the prevention of bullying may need to be examined. This will involve exploration of suitable programmes with victims, bullies and their peers. Whole school focus or specific class lessons may need to be revised dealing with respect, self-esteem, aggression or the issue of bullying itself.

·         If, during the course of the investigation, there are child protection concerns, the Children First 2011 guidelines become relevant as does the schools Child Protection Policy.

·         Information re any past Bullying issues will be passed on to new teacher at the start of each year.

·         Where the school feels an individual needs specific support from outside agencies, a referral to NEPS will be considered.

·         The effectiveness of this school policy will be assessed regularly with regard to the level and type of bullying behaviour that may be happening in the school. Amendments will be made to reflect any change in approach deemed necessary.

Recording of Bullying Behaviour:

·         Where a bullying investigation has been carried out the class teacher will keep a written record of the incident (see Appendix 4.)

·         Where the principal has used the Bullying Incident Investigation Record Form (seeAppendix 3), a copy will be kept in the office along with his/her own records of the investigation.

(see Section 6.8 of the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools):

6.      Programme of Support for Pupils:

The school’s programme of support for working with

pupils affected by bullying is as follows:

·         The relevant teacher will endeavour to assure the child that they are the victim and that they did the right thing by telling.

·         The teacher will monitor the situation in the period after the bullying incident/s and regularly check with the child/children to see how things are going.

·         The Principal will follow up by checking in regularly on how the situation has developed.

·         Information re any past Bullying issues will be passed on to new teacher at the start of each year.

7.      Supervision and Monitoring of Pupils:

The Board of Management confirms that appropriate supervision and monitoring policies and practices are in place to both prevent and deal with bullying behaviour and to facilitate early intervention where possible. (see  Supervision Policy)

       8.Prevention of Harassment: The Board of Management confirms that the school will, in accordance with its obligations under equality legislation, take all such steps that are

reasonably practicable to prevent the sexual harassment of pupils or staff or the

harassment of pupils or staff on any of the nine grounds specified i.e. gender including

transgender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race

and membership of the Traveller community.

10. Adoption Date of Policy: This policy was adopted by the Board of Management on

……………

11. Availability of Policy: This policy has been made available to school personnel, published on the school website and a hard copy is readily accessible to parents and pupils on

request. It has been provided to the Parents’ Association. A copy of this policy will be

made available to the Department and the patron if requested.

12. Review of Policy: This policy and its implementation will be reviewed by the Board of

Management once in every school year. Written notification that the review has been

completed will be made available to school personnel, published on the school website

and provided to the Parents’ Association. A record of the review and its outcome will be

made available, if requested, to the patron and the Department. The Principal is required

to report to the BoM once a term as to the number, if any, of reports that have been

in investigating and dealing with bullying is to resolve any issues and to restore, compiled and whether the matter has been resolved in accordance with this Policy.

13. List of Appedices:

·         Appendix 1: Fossa NS Anti-Bullying Charter

·         Appendix 2: Practical Tips for Building a Positive School Culture & Climate

·         Appendix 3: Bullying Incident Investigation Form

·         Appendix 4: Incident Record Sheet

·         Appendix 5: Checklist for Annual Review of the Anti–Bullying Policy & it’s implementation

Signed: _______________ (Principal)

Date: ______________

Signed: _______________ (Chairperson of Board of Management) Date: ______________

Date of next review: _______________