Whole school approach to anti-bullying in schools

Training and support should be provided to ensure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in relation to the anti-bullying policy. This should form part of new staff induction packages.

All staff should have CPD which raises awareness, increases confidence and builds skills about bullying. They need to understand:

• The impact of bullying on children and young people (CYP)
• Who may be more at risk of bullying
• Preventing bullying
• The levels of bullying in their setting
• Responding to bullying

All staff should be encouraged to and practice exemplary conduct towards each other and CYP. This will be reflected in staff inductions and includes external organisations who provide services within school. For example, after school club staff. See further guidance from the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA).

CPD opportunities include the following:

• If you would like to increase your knowledge on understanding bullying, please see the guidance from the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
• There is a free CPD training course offered as part of the United Against Bullying (UAB) whole-school anti-bullying programme. It aims to develop your understanding of bullying and those most at risk and improve confidence in preventing and responding to bullying. The final session of the course is an optional workshop for schools registered on UAB to provide practical support on the programme.
• The Anti-Bullying Alliance has developed free CPD-certified anti-bullying online training for anyone that works with children and young people.
• ABA provides guidance for Teaching Assistants (TA) on how to provide good support to children and young people who have experienced bullying, and receive TA support.
• Trauma and Attachment Aware Practice training is available through the Norfolk Virtual School for Children in Care and Previously in Care. Contact the team on virtual.schoolscwsw@norfolk.gov.uk for further information.
• All staff should be trained in active listening to enable CYP to talk to whichever adult they feel comfortable with if they have an issue. Samaritans provide a one-hour online learning session on active listening called "DEAL: developing listening skills".
• The Anti-Bullying Alliance have developed specific CPD around identity-based bullying (anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk).
• It would also be beneficial to complete the CASEL course called "An Introduction to Social and Emotional Learning" (casel.org).
• Support staff to develop their awareness around unconscious bias - this is a key consideration when supporting staff to respond appropriately to individual / groups of CYP involved in a bullying incident.

If you engage with Educational Psychology and Specialist Support (EPSS), consider discussing whole school training / approaches to anti-bullying with them during your core consultation.