Anti-Bullying Policy for Pupils

Anti-Bullying Policy

Anti-Bullying Policy for Pupils

The aim of this policy is to provide the school community with clear guidelines for the implementation of anti-bullying procedures in Cara Junior School.

The Board of Management recognises the very serious nature of bullying and the negative impact it can have on the lives of pupils. The school is committed to preventing and tackling bullying behaviour.

Positive School Culture

The policy identifies the following as important elements of a positive school culture.

• Effective leadership from adults who model the school ethos.
• A school-wide approach involving management, staff, parents and pupils.
• A shared understanding of what bullying is and its impact.
• Education and prevention strategies that build empathy and reduce cyberbullying risk.
• Effective supervision and monitoring of pupils throughout the day.
• Support for staff.
• Consistent recording, investigation and follow-up of bullying behaviour.
• Ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the policy.

Definition of Bullying

Bullying is defined in the policy as unwanted negative behaviour, whether verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another person or persons, and which is repeated over time.

The policy notes that isolated or once-off incidents of intentional negative behaviour do not normally fall within the definition of bullying and are dealt with in line with the school’s code of behaviour. However, placing a once-off offensive or hurtful public message, image or statement on a social network or other public forum may be regarded as bullying where it can be viewed or repeated by others.

Types of Bullying

Relevant Teachers

The policy identifies the relevant teachers for investigating and dealing with bullying as the Principal, Deputy Principal and all class teachers.

Awareness and Prevention Strategies

Cara Junior School uses awareness and prevention strategies aimed at cyberbullying, homophobic bullying, transphobic bullying and other forms of bullying.

• Careful planning of class groups and flexibility to make changes where needed.
• Recognising that some pupils may “get on” with others while others may not.
• Identifying hot spots and hot times such as playgrounds, corridors and transitions.
• Close liaison with escorts, drivers, parents and school staff regarding transport.
• Developing pupil profiles and sharing relevant information with staff as needed.
• Supporting pupils with risky behaviour histories and managing incidents where necessary.
• Awareness of pupils’ age and maturity compared with peers in certain situations.
• Social stories, SPHE, Stay Safe and programmes to build empathy and resilience.
• Promotion of school rules such as kind hands, quiet feet and respectful behaviour.

Reporting Bullying Behaviour

Any pupil or parent or guardian may bring a bullying incident to any teacher in the school. Reports, including anonymous reports, will be investigated and dealt with by the relevant teacher.

Teaching and non-teaching staff such as secretaries, SNAs, bus escorts and caretakers must report any incidents witnessed by them or mentioned to them.

Investigating and Dealing with Incidents

The primary aim of investigating and dealing with bullying is to resolve issues and restore, as far as practicable, the relationships of the parties involved.

• Teachers use professional judgement to decide whether bullying has occurred.
• Parents, guardians and pupils are required to co-operate with investigations.
• Teachers take a calm, unemotional problem-solving approach.
• Where possible, incidents are investigated outside the classroom situation.
• Interviews are conducted sensitively and with due regard to pupil rights.
• Questions of what, where, when, who and why may be explored calmly.
• Where a group is involved, members may be interviewed individually first.

Where Bullying Has Occurred

Where the relevant teacher has determined that bullying has occurred, parents or guardians of those involved should be contacted at an early stage. The school will discuss actions being taken and the supports provided to pupils.

Pupils should understand how they have breached the school’s anti-bullying policy and should be given an opportunity to see the situation from the perspective of the pupil affected.

Follow-Up and Recording

In determining whether a bullying case has been adequately and appropriately addressed, the relevant teacher will consider whether bullying has stopped, whether issues have been resolved as far as practicable, whether relationships have been restored, and any feedback from the parties involved.

Records of bullying incidents must be kept in an objective and factual manner.

1. Informal stage: staff keep written records of incidents witnessed or reported, and all incidents must be reported to the relevant teacher.
2. Formal stage: where bullying has occurred, the relevant teacher keeps appropriate written records to assist in resolving issues and restoring relationships.
3. Formal recording template: used in cases where bullying has not been adequately addressed within 20 school days, or where certain behaviours must be immediately reported.

Established Intervention Strategies

• Teacher interviews with all pupils.
• Agreements between pupils and monitoring of progress.
• Working with parents and guardians to support interventions.
• No Blame Approach.
• Circle Time.
• Social Stories and role play.
• Visual supports.
• Contracts for “No Bullying Behaviour”.

Support for Pupils Affected by Bullying

The school provides supports and opportunities for pupils affected by bullying to take part in activities designed to raise self-esteem, develop friendships, build social skills and build resilience.

• SPHE lessons.
• Stay Safe Programme.
• Group activities and circle time.
• Pastoral care system.
• Liaison with appropriate agencies where counselling or further supports are required.
• Referral to HSE Children and Family Services or Gardaí where appropriate.

Supervision, Monitoring and Prevention of Harassment

The Board of Management confirms that appropriate supervision and monitoring policies and practices are in place to prevent and deal with bullying behaviour and to support early intervention where possible.

The Board of Management also confirms that the school will take steps to prevent harassment of pupils or staff on any of the nine grounds specified in equality legislation.

Review and Availability

The policy is made available to school personnel, published on the school website and readily accessible to parents and pupils on request. It is provided to the Parents’ Association and the patron if requested.

The 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 the school community.

The uploaded policy shows the Principal’s signature dated 12/05/2022, with next review noted as Summer 2023.