Preventing and tackling bullying - parent session Do agree /disagree activity Possibly labeling/discussion around roles of bully/types of bullying. Ashford Park Primary School Wendy Watts – Kidscape Trainer

Group agreement To allow everybody to contribute: Talkative people: please show a little restraint. Quieter people: your contributions are very welcome. Only one person speaks at a time. Please raise your hand and wait to be called upon. Respect all opinions even (especially) if you don't agree. Participate!

Signs of bullying Unexplained injuries. Lost or broken possessions. Low self-esteem. A loss of friends. Avoiding social situations. Change in attitude. Difficulty sleeping. Bed wetting. Truanting or feigning sickness. Declining grades. Self-destructive behaviour. Refusal to talk about what is wrong.

Common forms of bullying Verbal: Name calling and persistent teasing. Mocking and laughing. Taunting and threatening. Physical: Pushing, shoving, kicking, hitting, pinching and any form of violence. Taking or damaging possessions. Making people do things they don't want to do.

Common forms of bullying Emotional: Excluding, tormenting, ridiculing, humiliation, playing mean tricks and spreading rumours. Online or cyber bullying: Bullying texts or emails. Abuse on social networking sites. Sharing embarrassing photos and web based attacks (e.g. hacking or impersonation).

Common types of bullying Racist: ethnicity, skin colour, language, religious practices. Homophobic: sexuality and/or gender identity. Disablist: special educational needs and disabilities. Based on any 'difference': E.g. aesthetics, educational abilities, hobbies, family set up, economic backgrounds.

Supporting a bullied child Speak in private. Discuss the different types of bullying and encourage them to give specific examples of their experiences. Be patient, calm and understanding. Do not make assumptions or interrupt - put your own opinions aside. Reassure them that the bullying is not their fault and that the issues can be resolved with your help. Give support and trust. Let your child know that you will need to talk to the school but explore the options together.

Behaviour to avoid If your child confides in you about bullying, DO NOT: Act aggressively, storm into the school or confront the bully's family directly. Dismiss their experience. The effects of bullying can be devastating and must be taken very seriously. Encourage retaliation. Fighting only promotes a cycle of bullying, places a child in danger, or gets the target in trouble with the school.

Reporting bullying Report to the school immediately - ask to see anti-bullying policy and procedures. The school is responsible for dealing with all incidents of bullying including those which happen offsite or online. Cyber bullying - also report to website administrators and/or telephone service providers.

Should I contact the Police? Some forms of bullying are illegal and should be reported to the police. These include: Violence or assault. Theft or intentional damage to property. Harassment, threats or intimidation in person or through digital communications. Hate crimes - bullying targeted at someone due to their ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or special educational needs and disabilities.

Reporting the school Record all bullying incidents: who, what, where, when. Keep evidence when possible - especially cyber bullying. Make it clear how your child is being affected. Follow reporting structures within the school. Give the school the opportunity to respond. BUT make sure an action plan is in place and you keep updated on progress.

Ashford Park Primary School Anti-Bullying Procedures 1. Incidents need to be reported, investigated and evaluated. 2. In cases of bullying which is judged as ongoing and “serious” parents will be informed and where appropriate a meeting will be called to discuss the inappropriate behaviour (“serious” = repeated, persistent and deliberately harmful which is physical, verbal or emotional.) 3. It is the expectation that all parents will work in partnership with the school to prevent bullying type behaviour. 4. If necessary and appropriate, the police will be consulted .

Ashford Park Primary School Anti-Bullying Procedures 5. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and all efforts will be made to stop the bullying. 6. All attempts will be made to support the victim. 7. All attempts will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour.

Dealing with cyber bullying Report it Collect and save evidence. The school is responsible for dealing with all forms of bullying. Use 'report' buttons on social media sites. Follow the reporting protocols of service providers - email, phone, internet. Illegal incidents should be reported to the Police.

Dealing with cyber bullying Prevent it - young people should: Not respond to bullying messages. Block profiles, telephone numbers and email senders. Keep social media profiles private. Maintain positive digital footprints. Never share passwords and keep them strong.

Protecting your child online Talk openly with your child about what they do online. E.g. the sites they use, who they talk to, how they know them. Discuss risks and encourage them to share their concerns - have a 'no blame' approach to sharing. Parental controls - use these for young children. Set boundaries and establish appropriate behaviour.

Protecting your child online Setting boundaries for your child - some examples: Set time limits for internet use - but consider smart phones. Social media profiles must be set to private. Only connect with people online they have met in person. Personal contact details are not given out over the internet. They never meet anyone in person from the internet without an adult.

Parent Advice Line www.kidscape.org.uk/parentsupport Anti bullying advice for parents. Call 020 7823 5430 (Mon-Tues, 10am- 5pm) Or visit and leave an email on www.kidscape.org.uk/parentsupport

Any questions?