Sladefield Infant School

Anti-Bullying At Sladefield Infant School

At Sladefield, we tal to children about how to build good relationships with classmates throughout the year. However, we use Anti-Bullying Week to address some of the key messages surrounding bullying - what it is, how it feels, how to prevent it, and what to do if it occurs. Parental understanding and involvement are essentail for anti-bullying initiatives to be effective. We would like to share some information that may be useful for parents.

What do we teach about bullying?

BULLYING IS WHEN SOMEONE HURTS YOU…

SEVERAL TIMES ON PURPOSE

Bullying is not the odd occasion of falling out with friends, name calling, arguments or fights. However these are also serious incidents which would be dealt with by teachers. This could be physical or verbal or it could be done online.

At Sladefield we do the following:

♦ We have Rules to keep everyone safe.
♦ We teach children how to build friendships.
♦ We support children to develop coping strategies.
♦ We plan lessons, assemblies and displays which teach children about bullying.
♦ We teach children how to be safe online.
♦ We celebrate differences.
♦ We encourage children to talk to an adult if they feel that they are being bullied.

Why do some children bully others?

All children at some point could become a bully or become the victim of bullying. There is no stereotype of a typical bully or a typical victim. Children bully for a variety of reasons:

♦ It might seem funny at the time – they don’t realise that it hurts.
♦ It makes them feel powerful.
♦ They want to impress others around them.
♦ They feel bad about themselves and so they want to make others feel the same way.
♦ They are jealous.
♦ They have been bullied themselves and are taking it out on someone else.

Often, children who bully need support too.

How do I know if my child is being bullied?

Here are some possible signs and symptoms:

♦ Becoming withdrawn or anxious.
♦ Having trouble sleeping.
♦ Saying that they do not want to come to school.
♦ Some physical signs.
♦ Complaining of feeling unwell.

You know your child better than anyone – if you think something is wrong, encourage them to talk to you about how they feel.

What should I do if my child is being bullied?

♦ If your child tells you that they think they are being bullied, keep calm. Getting angry can often make children worry even more.
♦ Allow the school to look into your concerns.
♦ Listen to your child.
♦ Where there might be evidence such as text messages or emails, keep these to share them with the school if necessary.
♦ Encourage your child to talk to a trusted adult at school – if they refuse, then offer to talk to the class teacher on their behalf.
♦ Advise your child not to retaliate – this makes the situation worse.

How can I protect my child from cyber-bullying?

Today one of the most common forms of bullying is cyber-bullying. Many children have access to the internet through mobile phones, tablets and computers. Here are some simple reminders to protect your child from cyber-bullying or other dangers online.

♦ Never share passwords, even with your best friends.
♦ Block people if they are sending messages which upset you.
♦ Don’t reply to nasty messages.
♦ Never give out personal information online.
♦ If you are sent a nasty message or picture, keep it and show a trusted adult.
♦ Think before you send out a message or photo of yourself — these can be shared by others and this is out of your control.