Anti-Bullying At Sladefield Infant School

At Sladefield, we talk 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Becoming withdrawn or anxious.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.

Helping Your Child Stay Safe Online (Ages 4–7)

Many young children use tablets, phones and computers at home. The internet can be a fun place to learn and play, but children need support to stay safe.

Here are some simple ways you can help protect your child:

🔒 Keep accounts secure

Set strong passwords for apps and devices.
Do not let your child share passwords with friends.
Where possible, keep control of logins so you can monitor use.

👀 Supervise and stay involved

Sit with your child while they are online, especially at this age.
Keep devices in shared family spaces (not bedrooms).
Ask your child what they are doing and who they are talking to.

🛑 Deal with unkind behaviour quickly

Show your child how to block or report users on apps and games.
Encourage them not to reply to unkind or upsetting messages.
Take screenshots or save messages and report concerns.

🏠 Protect personal information

Teach your child not to share:
- Their full name
- School name
- Address
- Photos with strangers
Remind them that people online may not be who they say they are.

📱 Choose age-appropriate content

Check age ratings for apps, games and websites.
Use parental controls where available.
Regularly review apps on your child’s device.

💬 Keep communication open

Reassure your child they can tell you anything, even if they are worried.
Talk regularly about online safety in a calm, positive way.
Remind them it is never their fault if something goes wrong.

💭 Teach them to think before sharing

Help children understand that messages, videos and photos can be shared with others.
Encourage them to ask: “Would I be happy if everyone saw this?”

Remember!

At this age, the best protection is adult support and supervision. Staying involved in your child’s online world helps them build safe habits from an early age.