Grey Street Primary School

Friendly Kids Support Policy

(Anti-bullying)

 
 
 
 

 

GUIDELINES

 

2.1 Bullying or harassing will not be tolerated at Grey Street Primary School.

 

2.2 It is everyone's  right and responsibility to report bullying whether it is happening to  

      them or   someone else.

 

2.3 If Bullying occurs a procedure shall be followed. This is outlined below and involves  

      the Student Behaviour Management Program and specifically the Student Code of

      Conduct.

 

2.4 Parents should have a role in helping the School to stop bullying.

 

IMPLEMENTATION

 

3.1 Conduct a bullying survey to establish students perceptions of ‘bullying’. Do this at  

      the beginning of each year. Follow up throughout year with work on developing a    

      culture of  zero-tolerance of bullying.

 

3.2    Establish an understanding about bullying and the procedures amongst staff at the beginning of each year. Reinforce this through Professional Development during the year.

 

3.3 Establish the Peer Mediation Program throughout the school in an effort to teach 

      children about conflict resolution and the way to handle bullying problems in an  

      effective way.

 

3.4 Continuous promotion and use of school-based programs which provide a safe and 

       caring environment will be maintained. These programs are listed in the resource

       section of this policy.

 

3.5 Notify parents of the Friendly Schools Support Policy in place at Grey Street at the

      beginning of the year and supply on-going information via the newsletter throughout

      the year.  Provide a small document outlining the school's anti-bullying position as

      part of the written information provided to parents each year.  Also provide a

      Behaviour Management Plan for each child to be signed by parents at the

      beginning of the school year.

 

PROCEDURE

 

When bullying occurs the following procedure for noting and reporting incidents will occur-

 

·        All reports of bullying, no matter how trivial, should be noted, investigated and dealt with by teachers, where able. Students will then gain confidence in reporting.

·        All reports will be entered on the Behaviour Base Program.

·        More serious or untimely cases are to be handled by the Student Welfare Coordinator (usually the Assistant Principal) or the Principal.

·        Communication between parents\ guardians of both bullies and victims is established with the Student Welfare Coordinator\ classroom teacher.

·        Records of bullying behaviour within the classroom will be kept by teachers and entered each week on the Behaviour Base by the Student Welfare Coordinator.

·        Written records of discussions between students and teachers are kept and entered on the Behaviour Base Program managed by the Assistant Principal.

·        Complaints regarding bullying by a staff member will follow school policy procedures on this matter.

·        Follow-up meetings or discussions will be arranged with both bully and victim.

 

 

 

 

 

EVALUATION

4.1 Behaviour base data will be reviewed and used as a basis for determining success of

      anti-bullying support strategy.

 

4.2 This policy will be reviewed on a yearly basis by the SSWAM (Staff and Student

      Welfare and Management) committee.

 

4.3 A student survey will be done at the end of each year to gauge the effectiveness of the

      policy according to students.

 

4.4 The official parent survey conducted each year will provide data in the area of school 

      environment. Extra questions in this area can be added.

 

4.5 The official staff survey conducted each year will provide data in the area of school 

      environment. Extra questions in this area can be added.

 

RESOURCES

 

5.1 ‘Hands Off’ and ‘BeingMe’ are incorporated into the ‘Greylinks’ program.

 

5.2 Karen Brunskills “Healthy Relationships” books, 1,2 & 3 and teachers manual.

 

5.3 Helen McGrath, ‘Friendly Kids, Friendly Classrooms’, in each teacher's tub for

      immediate classroom use.

 

5.4 Bill Rogers videos and resources for use in classroom management.

 

5.5 Peer Support Foundation material.

 

5.6 'Local Complaints Resolution Procedures', Department of Education 1999.

 

5.7 'Peer Relations Assessment Questionnaire', Ken Rigby, 1997.

 

5.8 Videos: 'Bullying is Uncool' and 'Burning: The Issue of Bullying'.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 

WELFARE POLICIES INCORPORATING ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

 

1)      POLICIES

 

·        Staff Welfare

·        Student Welfare Policy (Code of Conduct)

·        Anti- Bullying Policy

·        School Welfare Policy (ISDES)

·        Gender Equity Policy

·        Anti Sexual Harassment Policy

·        Equal Opportunity Policy

 

2)      WHOLE SCHOOL PLAN FOR ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

 

·        Endorse the Anti-bullying policy.

·        Implement strategies immediately to stop bullying. To ignore is to condone.

·        Ensure all staff have an agreed viewpoint and are committed to handling the issue immediately (or follow immediate delegation to AP or Principal) and in an agreed manner.

·        Provide Professional Development for staff in the counseling of students when dealing with bullying behaviour.

·        Follow-up in classroom with programs related to social skills and bullying. Eg. ‘Hands Off’ and ‘Being Me’, Karen Brunskill’s ‘ Healthy Relationships’. Etc.

·        Record ALL incidents in classroom on classroom incident proforma and in the yard if on duty for entry into the Behaviour Base Program.

·        Inform and educate parents about the anti-bullying approach and their role.

·        Involve outside School Support Agencies if needed.