Bullying

At West Park School we have a zero tolerance to bullying.

Bullying is when someone keeps doing or saying things to have power over another person.

Bullying involves the psychological, emotional, social or physical harassment of one person by another.  It includes behaviours and actions that are verbal, physical and/or antisocial.

Bullying includes:

•Aggressive Body Behaviour

•Criminal Acts

•Damage to Property

•Exclusion

•Extortion

•Gossip

•Hurtful Teasing

•Internet Abuse

•Nasty Body Language

•Phone Abuse

•Physical Violence

•Pushing and Shoving

•Racist Comments

•Sexual Harassment

•Social Banter

•Use of Weapons

WEST PARK SCHOOL’S APPROACH TO BULLYING:

Key features and strategies include:

•School Policy 31 – Discipline/Cooperative Behaviour Plan and School Policy 43 – Stand-downs, Suspensions, Exclusions and Expulsions clearly outline behaviours expected, guidelines and procedures to follow.

•A Cooperative Behaviour Plan spells out the behaviours expected of children inside the classroom, so that all children can feel safe, secure and happy at school.  These are consistent across the school.

•Our long term Health and Physical Education Plan covers the following topics over two years:

oCooperating and Communicating

oKeeping Ourselves Safe

oRelating to Others

oBuilding Self Esteem

oFair Play

oBullying/Kia Kaha

oTeam Building

oMaking Choices/Decisions

oSetting Rules

•There is a wide range of sports equipment available for children to use at lunchtime, as well as a new adventure playground, a toss and score game and plenty of space for children to play.  These activities encourage children to play cooperatively and there is plenty of equipment for everyone to share.

•Health consultation with parents every second year, to assist in prioritising topics covered in our two year long term plan, is essential.

•Teachers are on playground/classroom duty at interval and lunchtime.  They can be identified by a bright red laminated card attached to their clothing.  All teachers, whether on duty or not, help children with a concern.

•Senior Syndicate SAFE (Safe And Friendly Environment) Squad members assist the duty teachers.  It is really helpful to have all the “extra eyes and ears” keeping our playground a positive, safe and friendly place.

•We have a supportive, caring environment where pupils speak up about an incident and know that this will result in a fair resolution.  Following up immediately any concerns bought to the attention of the staff, by either students or parents/caregivers, is most important.

•Class, syndicate and school awards are given out as positive reinforcement.

•Everyone works hard to create a caring, safe and equitable learning environment in which all children are able to achieve with excellence.

•A buddy system is used where West Park School children look after new enrolments in each class.

•Classroom set of rules of expected behaviours is discussed and established early in the year.

•Staff deal with bullying incidents straight away to:

osupport the victim,

oidentify what happened,

ostop the abuse,

ohelp the bully change his/her behaviour.

•Staff talk about bullying in class to ensure pupils know what bullying is, and what it includes.  Most often it is verbal, and many children do not realise that what they are doing is bullying.