Anti-bullying

What is bullying?

The Anti-Bullying Alliance have an agreed definition of bullying based on research from the last 30 years:

"The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online."

There are four key elements to this definition:

• Hurtful
• Repetition
• Power imbalance
• Intentional

It is important to understand that bullying is a group behaviour. No longer do we understand bullying as a bully/victim role. It instead includes many individuals and understanding key character traits of these individuals will help when preventing and responding to bullying incidents. This video explains more about what roles may be involved in group bullying behaviour.

Why is it important for schools to be aware of and address bullying?

Bullying can have significant short-term effects on children and young people including barriers to learning, absences from school and a negative impact on wellbeing as well as longer term effects such as mental health difficulties.  

Schools need to be vigilant about bullying for several reasons:

• Well-being: Bullying negatively impacts children and young people's mental and emotional health. Being aware allows schools and settings to address incidents promptly and provide support to victims.
• Safety and prevention: Schools and settings can implement anti-bullying programmes, foster a positive climate, and teach empathy and kindness.
• Legal and ethical responsibility: Schools and settings have a duty to provide a safe environment. Awareness supports them to fulfil this responsibility and take appropriate action when incidents occur.
• Engagement with learning: Bullying affects a child or young person's ability to engage with learning, schools and settings that address this effectively create a more conducive learning environment.

In summary, awareness of bullying enables schools and settings to protect children and young people, promote a positive atmosphere, and fulfil their legal responsibilities.

What does the law say?

Schools have specific legal duties regarding bullying:

• The Education Act 2002 (Section 175) places a legal duty on maintained schools and local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Some incidents of bullying may also be a child protection issue. A bullying incident should be addressed as a child protection issue under the Children Act 1989 when there is "reasonable cause to suspect" that a child is "suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm." These concerns must be reported to the member of staff in school responsible for child protection and then reported to the local authority's children's social services.
• Under the Equality Act 2010, schools must address discriminatory language and respond to it appropriately.
• All schools must have a behaviour policy that includes measures to prevent all forms of bullying among children and young people.
• Schools must have anti-bullying policies in place. These policies aim to minimise risk and take effective action against bullying behaviour.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance provides further detail on what the law says about bullying.

Key considerations to support and empower your anti-bullying approaches

• Systematic approach: Make reporting bullying easy with various options. Respond quickly and keep records to track and improve anti-bullying actions.
• Compassionate relationships: Strong relationships with children and young people can prevent bullying. Take steps to understand their issues, recognise their strengths, and create a supportive environment.
• Empower children and young people: Teach children and young people how to stand against bullying and prejudice, which helps them become aware, empathetic, and inclusive leaders for a safer school.
• Transition strategy: Include anti-bullying support when children and young people start a new school to help them deal with stress and social challenges.
• Avoid stereotypes: Do not blame victims for bullying. Update anti-bullying policies and train staff to support a positive school culture.
• Staff development: Train staff on the emotional and psychological factors behind bullying to manage it better.
• Partnerships with families: Work with parents and carers, understand their concerns, and collaborate to address bullying.

What support is available?

National

Anti-Bullying Alliance

This organisation provides advice and support about bullying for families, young people, and those who work with young people. They also offer free CPD-certified anti-bullying online training for anyone that works with children and young people. They organise an annual Anti-Bullying Week with different themes each year.

Preventing and tackling bullying

The DfE advice Preventing and tackling bullying has been produced to help schools take action to prevent and respond to bullying as part of their overall behaviour policy. It outlines the Government's approach to bullying, legal obligations and the powers schools have to tackle bullying, and the principles which underpin the most effective anti-bullying strategies in schools. It also lists further resources through which school staff can access specialist information on the specific issues that they face.

Diana Award

The Diana Award: Anti-Bullying focuses on engaging young people, parents and teachers to change the attitudes, behaviour and culture of bullying by building skills and confidence to address different situations, both online and offline

Norfolk

Our local offer draws upon what is available nationally, helping you contextualise approaches, and provides targeted support to meet the needs of your school community. Find out more on the Equalities, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB) graduated offer web page.

Norfolk County Council has developed a toolkit for schools and settings that addresses anti-bullying in schools. The aim of the toolkit is to support you to plan a whole school approach as well provide guidance on how to respond when a child or young person experiences bullying. 

Key contacts

For further support, please email inclusionandsend@norfok.gov.uk.