Friends’ School is well known for its caring and welcoming environment.

We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere.  Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school.  If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively.  We are a “telling” school.  This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell staff.

Definition

Bullying is the wilful, conscious desire to hurt, threaten, or frighten someone else.  Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.

Bully can be

·        Emotional

·        Physical

·        Verbal

Bullying hurts.  No one deserves to be a victim of bullying.  Everyone has the right to be treated with respect.  Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.  As a school we take bullying seriously.

Bullying will not be tolerated.

Procedures in place for preventing bullying

In the Preparatory Department we use methods recommended by KIDSCAPE in order to prevent bullying and to change inappropriate behaviour.  These include:

·        Discussion of school rules

·        School rules on display

·        School rules included in the Prospectus/Handbook so as parents may discuss rules with their children

·        Writing of class rules

·        Agreeing to rules e.g. signing of a “behaviour contract”

·        Inclusion of stories on bullying, inappropriate behaviour, caring for others etc in our assembly programme

·        Circle Time activities which involve discussion on bullying, friendship, caring and tolerance of others etc

·        Organised playground games

·        Use of playground buddies to organise games and to play with KS1 classes at break and lunch

·        All teachers and supervisory assistants are informed immediately of any concerns.  Supervisory assistants give feedback to each class teacher on playground incidents

·        Each year the children are made aware of the Designated and Deputy Designated Teachers for Child Protection.

Full Anti-Bullying Policy available on request.