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Introduction and RationaleThis anti-bullying policy operates in conjunction with the Code of Behaviour, which is used to address isolated instances of anti-social behaviour.The school has a central role in the children’s’ social moral development just as it does in their academic development. In school, we work towards standards of behaviour based on the basic principles of honesty, respect, consideration and responsibility. The individuality of each child needs to be accommodated while at the same time acknowledging the right of every child to education in a disruption free environment. Relating this policy to Characteristic Spirit of SchoolSt. Colmcille’s B.N.S. is committed to providing a caring learning environment which facilitates the nurturing of each pupil’s full educational potential. Our school aims to be a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of its community. This community is defined as the pupils, parents, teachers, ancillary staff and visitors to the school. Aims
Our school community believes that each pupil has a right to an education free from fear and intimidation. The school regards bullying as a serious infringement of individual rights and a serious threat to the self-esteem and self-confidence of targeted pupil(s). Therefore it does not tolerate bullying of any kind. Every report of bullying is treated seriously and dealt with, having due regard for the well- being of the targeted pupil(s) and the perpetrator(s). The immediate priority, should a bullying incident occur, is ending the bullying, (thereby protecting the person(s) being targeted) and resolving the issues and restoring the relationships involved insofar as is practicable using a “Reform, not Blame” approach. All pupils are expected to contribute to the creation and maintenance a safe environment in the school. On becoming aware of any bullying situation, in or outside the school, involving members of the school community they should notify a trusted responsible adult. Bullying behaviour is too serious not to report. Pupils’ participation in school life in general is encouraged through existing school structures. Awareness of bullying, and willingness to take action to prevent or stop it, is part of this participation. Details of Policy
3. In accordance with the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools bullying is defined as follows:
Bullying is unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical conducted by an individual or group against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over time.
The following types of behaviour are included in the definition of bullying:
Isolated or once-off incidents of intentional negative behaviour, including a once-off offensive or hurtful text message or other private messaging, do not fall within the definition of bullying and should be dealt with, as appropriate, in accordance with the school’s code of behaviour.
However, in the context of this policy, placing a once-off offensive or hurtful public message, image or statement on a social network site or other public forum where that message, image or statement can be viewed and/or repeated by other people will be regarded as bullying behaviour.
Negative behaviour that does not meet this definition of bullying will be dealt with in accordance with the school’s code of behaviour.
This definition includes a wide range of behaviour, whether verbal or written, whether physical or social, whether targeting person or property, whether carried out directly or indirectly or through any electronic or other medium, which could harm a pupil or undermine her/his self-esteem or self-confidence.
4. The Relevant Teacher for investigating and dealing with bullying in this school in the class teacher in the first instance. All subsequent investigations of bullying behaviour will be dealt with in accordance with the procedures which are outlined in the Code of Behaviour. 5. The education and prevention strategies (including strategies specifically aimed at cyber-bullying and identity based bullying) used by the school are as follows:
Pupils are helped to examine the issue of bullying in a calm rational way, outside of the tense context of particular bullying incidents. In the process they are made more aware of the nature of bullying and the various forms that it can take. Pupils are made aware that the consequences of bullying behaviour are always bad for those who are targeted, even if this is not always obvious at the time. Pupils are encouraged to recognise, reject and report bullying behaviour, either spontaneously or through questionnaires that are regularly used in the school.
Through presentations or other exercises, the school staff and parents/guardians are made aware of the nature of bullying and the signs that might indicate that a pupil is being bullied. They are encouraged to be vigilant in watching out for signs of bullying and to report any suspicion of bullying they may have to the “Relevant Teacher” (in the case of staff members) or any staff member (in the case of parents/guardians).
Through regular reports in school newsletters and other communications as well as at meetings with parent/guardian groups parents/guardians are regularly informed of the activities of the school 'Anti-Bullying Team' and encouraged to support its work.
6. 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:
Where a pupil has been found to be engaged in bullying behaviour, has formally promised to stop and has broken that promise, any of the following sanctions may be imposed: - he may be required to sign another promise, this time countersigned by a parent/guardian; - Parent(s)/guardian(s) may be contacted by the ‘Relevant Teacher’ and informed of the nature and extent of the bullying behaviour with a view to agreeing a strategy whereby a promise to end the bullying behaviour would be honoured; - Parent(s)/guardian(s) may be invited to a meeting with the ‘Relevant Teacher’ and the Principal and the pupil may be suspended from school. - The case may be referred to the Board of Management and the pupil may be suspended or expelled from the school. 7. The school’s programme of support for working with pupils affected by bullying is as follows:
- Ending the bullying behaviour, - Changing the school culture to foster more respect for bullied pupils and all pupils, - Changing the school culture to foster greater empathy towards and support for bullied pupils, - Indicating clearly that the bullying is not the fault of the targeted pupil through the awareness-raising programme, - Indicating clearly that the bullying is not the fault of the targeted pupil through the speedy identification of those responsible and speedy resolution of bullying situations, - After resolution, enabling bullied pupils to complete a victim-impact statement, - Making adequate counselling facilities available to pupils who need it in a timely manner, - Helping bullied pupils raise their self-esteem by encouraging them to become involved in activities that help develop friendships and social skills (e.g. participation in group work in class and in extra-curricular group or team activities during or after school).
- Making it clear that bullying pupils who reform are not blamed or punished and get a “clean sheet," - Making it clear that bullying pupils who reform are doing the right thing and giving them praise for this, - Making adequate counselling facilities available to help those who need it learn other ways of meeting their needs besides violating the rights of others, - Helping those who need to raise their self-esteem by encouraging them to become involved in activities that develop friendships and social skills (e.g. participation in group work in class and in extra-curricular group or team activities during or after school), - Using learning strategies throughout the school and the curriculum to help enhance pupils’ feelings of self-worth, - In dealing with negative behavior in general, encouraging teachers and parents to focus on, challenge and correct the behaviour while supporting the child, - In dealing with bullying behaviour seeking resolution and offering a fresh start with a “clean sheet” and no blame in return for keeping a promise to reform. 8. 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. 9. The Board of Management confirms that the school will, in accordance with its obligations under equality legislation, take all such steps as 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. This policy was adopted by the Board of Management on 12 May 2014.
11. This policy has been made available to school personnel, published on the school website and provided to the Parents’ Association. A copy of this policy will be made available to the Department of Education and Skills and to the patron if requested.
12. 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 to the Department of Education and Skills and to the patron if requested. Success Criteria
Anti-Bullying Code in St Colmcille's BNS 1. Every pupil has the right to enjoy his time in St Colmcille's Boys' National School, free from bullying 2. Our school will not tolerate any unkind actions or remarks, even if these were not meant to hurt. 3. Pupils should support each other by reporting all instances of bullying. 4. Bullying is regarded as a very serious matter; no child has a right to strike another, even in "self-defence".
Signed: _______________________________ Signed: ____________________________ (Chairperson of Board of Management) (Principal)
Date: ___/___/______ Date: ___/___/______
Date of next review: ___/___/______ Appendix 1 Bullying can take a number of forms. These may include any of the following (this list is not exhaustive):
Stealing/damaging books or equipment Stealing/damaging clothing or other property Demanding money with menaces Persistently moving, hiding or interfering with property Marking/defacing property
Deliberately withholding significant information and resources, Writing of anonymous notes, Malicious, disparaging or demeaning comments, Malicious tricks/derogatory jokes, Knowingly spreading rumours, Belittling others’ efforts, their enthusiasm or their new ideas, Derogatory or offensive nicknames (name-calling), Using electronic or other media for any of the above (cyber bullying), Disrespectfully mimicking a particular individual in his absence, Deliberately refusing to address issues focusing instead on the person.
Deliberately marginalising an individual Deliberately preventing a person from joining a group, Deliberately preventing from joining in an activity, schoolwork-related or recreational Blaming a pupil for things he did not do.
Template for recording bullying behaviour1. Name of pupil being bullied and class group Name: ______________________________Class__________________ 2. Name(s) and class(es) of pupil(s) engaged in bullying behaviour _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________ 3. Source of bullying concern/report 4. Location of incidentS (tick relevant person) (tick location) Pupil Playground Other pupil Classroom Parent Corridor Teacher Toilets Other Other 5. Name of person(s) who reported the bullying concern _______________________________________________________ 6. Type of Bullying Behaviour (tick relevant item) Physical Aggression Cyber-bullying Damage to Property Intimidation Isolation/Exclusion Malicious Gossip Name Calling Other (specify) 7. Where behaviour is regarded as identity-based bullying, indicate the relevant category: Homophobic Disability/SEN related Racist Membership of Traveller community Other (specify) 8. Brief Description of bullying behaviour and its impact ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Details of actions taken ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Signed______________________________ (Relevant Teacher) Date:__________ Date submitted to Principal/Deputy Principal ___________________ Checklist for annual review of the anti-bullying policy and its implementation
Signed _____________________________________ Date:___________ Chairperson, Board of Management Signed _____________________________________ Date:__________
Notification regarding the Board of Management’s annual review of the Anti-bullying policy
To: _____________________________________
The Board of Management of St Colmcille’s BNS wishes to inform you that:
· The Board of Management’s annual review of the school’s anti-bullying policy and its implementation was completed at the Board meeting of _______ · This review was conducted in accordance with the checklist set out in Appendix 4 of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools.
Signed _____________________________________ Date: ___________ Chairperson, Board of Management
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