Banyule Primary School : Bullying Policy

(This policy document is available as a PDF file to enable download and printing. Click here to download the policy document)

In any environment where more than one person (children or adults) exist, there will always be the possibility of some degree of inappropriate behaviour. At Banyule Primary School, in every case, this is considered inappropriate, and we promote and adhere to a very strong and consistent policy regarding bullying behaviour.

Unfortunately, bullying and other unwanted behaviour simply can't be legislated out of existence. Instead, the community works together to correctly identify, address, and monitor such behaviour.

The sooner such behaviour is identified and addressed, the less likely it is to progress. Without the negative (peer) reinforcement, bullies don't gain anything, and in most cases, they understand and accept that bullying is not an acceptable way to act.

However, in some cases, more action and involvement is required, and the following policy clearly identifies our approach to all forms of bullying and unwanted behaviour patterns.

Our Policy regarding Bullying:

Definition:

A person is bullied when one or more people exhibit negative or harmful actions to them over time.  Bullies are people who deliberately set out to intimidate, exclude, threaten and/or hurt others repeatedly.  Bullying is a clear form of harassment.

Rationale:

The school will provide a positive culture where bullying is not accepted, and in so doing, all will have the right of respect from others, the right to learn or to teach, and a right to be safe and secure in their school environment.

Aims:

• To reinforce within the school community what bullying is, and the fact that it is unacceptable.
• Everyone within the school community to be alert to signs and evidence of bullying and to have a responsibility to report it to staff whether as observer or victim.
• To ensure that all reported incidents of bullying are followed up appropriately and that support is given to both victims and perpetrators.
• To seek parental and peer-group support and co-operation at all times.

Implementation:

Parents, teachers, students and the community will be aware of the school’s position on bullying.

The school will adopt a four-phase approach to bullying.

Phase 1 : Primary Prevention

Primary prevention helps to prevent bullying from occurring in the first place, using a number of programs and actions, including:

• Professional development for staff relating to bullying, harassment and proven counter measures.
• Community awareness and input relating to bullying, its characteristics and the school’s programs and response.
• To provide programs that promote resilience, life and social skills, assertiveness, conflict resolution and problem solving.
• "You Can Do It" or similar education programs to be implemented across the school.
• Each classroom teacher will clarify at the start of each year the school policy on bullying.
• The curriculum to include anti-bulling messages and strategies
• Junior School Council, peer support delegates, staff and students to promote the philosophy of "No Put Downs".

Phase 2 : Early Intervention:

Some bullying will always occur, despite excellent strategies and vigilance. When it does occur, a quick and consistent response can often quickly defuse the situation, and begin to let any bully know that their behaviour is not acceptable nor tolerated.

This can involve :

• Promote the reporting of bullying by children and staff involving themselves or others.
• Classroom teachers and principal on a regular basis reminding students and staff to report incidents of bullying.
• Parents encouraged to contact school if they become aware of a problem.
• Public recognition and reward for positive behaviour and resolution of problems.

Phase 3 : Intervention:

Once identified, each bully, victim and witnesses will be spoken with, and all incidents or allegations of bullying will be fully investigated and documented.

Students and staff identified by others as bullies will be informed of allegations.

If student bullying persists parents will be contacted and consequences implemented consistent with the school’s Student Code of Conduct (the Student Code of Conduct can be found here).

Phase 4 : Post-Violation:

Consequences for students will be individually based and may involve:-    

• exclusion from class.
• exclusion from yard.
• withdrawal of privileges.
• detention
• school suspension.
• ongoing counselling from appropriate agency for both victim and bully.

Other activities and responses may include:

• Reinforcement of positive behaviours.
• Classroom Meetings.
• Support Structures.
• Ongoing monitoring of identified bullies.
• Rewards for positive behaviour.

Consequences for staff bullying, should it ever occur, will be individually based and may involve:-

• counselling
• a period of monitoring
• a formal support group
• disciplinary actions

Evaluation:

This policy will be reviewed with whole staff, student, parent and community input as part of the school’s  review cycle.