Anti-Bullying Policy

Aim

The aim of this policy is to ensure that staff, parents and students of Mitcham Primary School work together to create a respectful and productive learning community that supports the rights of all students to learn and all teachers to teach.

Definitions

  • • Bullying is hurting another person or group who is less powerful either physically or psychologically.
  • • Bullying behaviour is deliberate, unwelcome, uninvited, and often repeated.
  • • Bullying involves behaviour which is physical, verbal, psychological or social/relational
  • • Cyberbullying refers to bullying through information and communication technologies (ICT)
  • • Conflict or fights between equals and single incidents are not defined as bullying.
  • • Bullying of any form or for any reason can have long-term effects on those involved including bystanders.

Objectives

  • • To protect the emotional and physical well-being of students and staff.
  • • To provide a safe and supportive learning and teaching environment.
  • • To have wellbeing and resilience programs in place to assist our students with social problem solving and managing grievances.
  • • To link anti-bullying strategies with school’s grievance procedure and school behaviour code.
  • • To develop a positive bystander code to assist students in understanding their individual and collective responsibility.

Roles and Responsibilities

Students should:

If a student feels that they are being bullied, or have witnessed bullying behaviour as a bystander, they should:

  • • Tell the person that they are being a bully and to stop the behaviour.
  • • Support the person who is being bullied and request help from a teacher at the time of the incident.
  • • Report behaviour to the class teacher or another staff member.
  • • Not bully others.
  • • Be aware that if students have witnessed bullying behaviour as a bystander and do nothing, there may be consequences for their behaviour.
Members of staff should:

When a staff member witnesses a bullying incident or is notified of a bullying incident by a student they should:

  • • Listen and provide support to the target of the bullying by acknowledging the nature and seriousness of bullying behaviour.
  • • Find out the background and attempt to resolve the incident.
  • • Refer the incident to the appropriate leadership team member if follow-up is required or contact parents to inform them.
  • • Model appropriate behaviours at all times.
  • • Implement curriculum that supports social education and student well-being.
  • • Use Restorative Justice Practices.
Members of the school’s leadership team should:
  • • Provide support to targets of bullying.
  • • Provide support for bullies (i.e. anger management etc.).
  • • Ensuring the school's anti-bullying policy is implemented consistently throughout the school.
  • • Make contact with parents regarding bullying incidents as required.
  • • Encourage students to continue to report incidents of bullying behaviour.
  • • Disseminate information regarding the school’s anti-bullying policy, procedures and curriculum.
Parents and caregivers and the wider community should:
  • • Watch for signs that your child may be being bullied.
  • • Encourage students to report any incidences of bullying.
  • • Contact the school if you are aware that any child is being bullied.
  • • Encourage your child to become emotionally resilient.
  • • Support anti-bullying curriculum covered at school.
  • • Contact the school for further information re: support available.

Resources

Policy update and review

The school council and staff regularly monitor and review the effectiveness of the Anti-Bullying Policy (at least every three years) and revise the policy when required.

Policy last reviewed May 2020. Next review May 2023.

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Responsibility - Resilience - Respect
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