Our Policies

Anti-bullying Policy

Lakefield Schools is committed to creating a safe and caring learning community, where every child is valued and can realise her potential through the provision of stimulating teaching, a wide range of opportunities and excellent facilities.  The school will not tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind which prevents this from happening.  The school encourages an atmosphere where independence, individual talents and academic achievement will be celebrated and where children will flourish without fear.

Bullying is defined as deliberate hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves.  Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim and impedes their learning.  Bullying can take many forms.

Bullying can take one of these forms:

  • Indirect -being unfriendly, spreading rumours, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding bags or books).
  • Physical -pushing, kicking, hitting, punching, slapping or any form of violence.
  • Threats – verbal or non verbal
  • Violence
  • Ignoring
  • Invading privacy or personal space
  • Interfering with property
  • Ridiculing
  • Demanding money
  • Deliberately failing to recognise someone’s efforts or worth
  • Inciting others to act in any of the above ways
  • Cyber -All areas of internet misuse, such as nasty or threatening emails, mobile threats by text messaging & calls………
EVERY CHILD MATTERS
  • At LFS we are committed to embedding an ethos that embraces the ECM Agenda. This Anti-Bullying policy and its implementation pays particular attention to the following ECM Standards:
  • Ethos
    • An ethos of trust ensures children are free from bullying and discrimination
    • Children and adults ensure that the safety of others and themselves is always a priority
    • Children feel safe and secure in reporting bullying, discrimination and any incidents of dangerous behaviour
    • An open ethos enables the views of children, parents/carers, staff and other partner/service providers to be valued, respected and acted upon
    • An inclusive ethos fosters individual and collective responsibility in helping others
    • A culture of community care, involvement and respect for the environment is promoted
    • A welcoming ethos ensures that children and their parents/carers feel able to approach staff for advice and guidance to support their decision-making about future opportunities and life chances
  • Policy
    The racial equality, anti-bullying and behaviour policies reflect the ECM outcome ‘stay safe’ and children are able to report any incidents of discrimination, harassment, bullying or anti-social behaviour
  • The Environment
    Staff are on duty at break and lunchtime to supervise the safety of children
What do we do as a school to reported incidents of bullying
Procedures
  1. If bullying is seen or suspected by a member of staff, it will be dealt with initially and immediately by that member of staff. A note should always be made on the negative house point pro-forma in form of sanction, violation slip filled, house point deduction and a member of the senior leadership team informed. 
  2. Where concern about bullying has been seen or reported, the incident[s] will be recorded and given to a member of the senior leadership team.
  3. The member of the senior leadership team will interview all parties and make a record.
  4. The form tutor will determine with the member of the senior leadership team the appropriate strategy and plan of action to combat the bullying.
  5. The form tutor will oversee the implementation of the strategy.
  6. Parents will be informed and will be asked to come into a meeting to discuss the problem.
  7. All reasonable interventions will be made to help the bully [bullies] change their behaviour. 
  8. If the act is repeated by same child, he/she is placed on one week class exclusion form class, certain areas of the school, activities then suspension and permanent exclusion is done (this is dependent on the class).
  9.  Punitive measures may be used as appropriate depending on circumstances/class and in consultation with all parties concerned.
What you can do about bullying
  • Tell the person(s) involved to stop
  • If you see other people bullying someone, ask them to stop
  • Report it, if you are being bullied, or someone you know is being bullied
Who to talk to:
  • Trusted adult
  • Teachers
  • parent(s)
  • Head of School
Monitoring, evaluation and review

The school will review this policy annually and assess its implementation and effectiveness.