Anti-Bullying

All of our staff area aware that children can abuse other children - we refer to this as child-on-child abuse. This can happen inside or outside of our setting and online. If parents or children have any concerns regarding child on child abuse they should contact either the Class Teacher or the Designated Safeguarding Leads; Mr Gardner, Mr Calvert or Mr Bliss who will always respond and help.

We define bullying as 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 emotional/psychological (Anti-Bullying Alliance, 2024).

Bullying encompasses a range of behaviours which may be combined and may include the behaviours and actions we have set out below. Bullying can be, but is not limited to:

• excluding a child from online games, activities or friendship groups

• sending threatening, upsetting or abusive messages

• creating and sharing embarrassing or malicious images or videos

• 'trolling' - sending menacing or upsetting messages on social networks, chat rooms or online games

• voting for or against someone in an abusive poll

• setting up hate sites or groups about a particular child

• creating fake accounts, hijacking or stealing online identities to embarrass a young person or cause trouble using their name.

All of our staff are trained in our policy and procedures with regard to child on child abuse and the important role they have to play in preventing it and responding where they believe a child may be at risk from it.

All of our staff are expected to challenge inappropriate behaviours between children. Downplaying certain behaviours, for example dismissing sexual harassment as just 'banter', 'just having a laugh' or 'part of growing up' can lead to a culture of unacceptable behaviours, an unsafe environment for children and in worst case scenarios a culture that normalises abuse leading to children accepting it as normal and not coming forward to report it and so this behaviour will always be challenged.