Statement of Intent

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

 

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is the use of physical and/or verbal abuse, with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.

Bullying can be:

  • Emotional- being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures)

  • Physical- pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence

  • Racist- racial taunts, graffiti, gestures

  • Sexual- unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments

  • Verbal- name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing

 

Why is it Important to Respond to Bullying?

Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Children who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.

 

Bobtails feel that we have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.

As a pre-school we take bullying seriously. Children and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.

Procedures

  1. Report bullying incidents to staff

  2. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff

  3. In serious cases parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem

  4. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly

  5. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour

 

Outcomes

  1. The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise. Other consequences may take place.

  2. In serious cases, suspension or even exclusion will be considered

  3. If possible, the children will be reconciled

  4. After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take