Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
BULLYING
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
Definition
• Bullying definitions usually contain 3
elements:
1. The behaviour is intended to cause
distress
2. There is an imbalance of power between
the bully and target
3. The behaviour is repeated
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
Types of Bullying
• Can be short term or long term
• Based on race, gender, appearance, size,
material possession, sexuality or any other
perceived difference
• Physical, psychological, social, verbal or via
technology in form
• Intended to threaten, frighten, intimidate,
subdue, isolate or create mental or physical
harm
Hertfordshire County Council
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Effects of Bullying
• Targets may feel powerless, isolated,
frustrated, worthless, low in self esteem /
confidence
• Targets may start to believe what the bullies
say about them is true and may blame
themselves
• The feelings and difficulties associated with
being a target can continue into adulthood
where their effects can be more powerful
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
Early Warning Signs
• Changed behaviour, tearfulness, bad
temper, shyness
• Isolation and being withdrawn
• Frequent unexplained head or tummy aches
• Poor concentration and deterioration of work
• Bullying others may be an indication that
someone is being bullied themselves
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
Where Bullying Flourishes
• Where it is explicitly or implicitly ignored
• When pupils receive the impression that it is
something they should be able to sort out
themselves
• When victims are seen as bringing it upon
themselves
• It can be hard to react strongly to early
warning signs in small children for both
parents and staff
Hertfordshire County Council
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Where Bullying is Tackled
• Pupils feel safe and are encouraged to
report incidents, they know where to go for
help
• Parents feel comfortable discussing
concerns with staff
• Staff have the confidence and skills to
respond and are supported to do so
• Bullying is covered in the curriculum
Hertfordshire County Council
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What the research shows
• Generally, 30% of CYP report being bullied
• Most CYP report being bullied on account of
their appearance, size or weight
• Psychological forms of bullying are more
prevalent than physical forms
• Internet bullying is increasing
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
Anti Bullying work across CSF
• Social & Emotional Aspects of Learning
(SEAL)
• Behaviour & Attendance consultants
• Educational Psychologists
• Behaviour Support Teams
• Healthy Schools
• PSHE & Citizenship
• Race Equality
Hertfordshire County Council
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Herts Anti Bullying Initiative (HABI)
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Joint funded by CSF and Children’s Fund
Peer Support Training
Peer Support Training DVD
Website for young people
Restorative approaches
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
Schools’ obligations
• Schools are legally required to have an anti
bullying policy (or have a section in their behaviour
policy at least)
• Governors are obliged to record, investigate and
respond to complaints about bullying made by
parents where school staff have been unable to
resolve the situation to the parents’ satisfaction
• Hertfordshire asks schools to record bullying
cases and racist incidents and feedback to the
authority. This is called the schools Racist
Incidents and Bullying Survey and an integrated
form to record incidents is provided
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
Reporting Bullying
• Schools are required to feedback to the LA on
the number of bullying cases on an annual
basis through an online survey tool
• All members of staff should record bullying
cases and log them with the co-ordinator
• It is helpful to record the ethnicity of both target
and perpetrator, the motivation or grounds for
the bullying and how it was conveyed
• A standard form for all staff may be useful
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
Local & National priorities
• Bullying is a priority in the Staying Safe outcome
of Every Child Matters
• The CYPP 07/08 & Annual Performance
Assessment 06 identify HABI as a key
achievement & bullying as a priority (CYPP S2)
• The CSF Service Plan 05/08 and 06 supplement
identifies the need to confront and manage
bullying and harassment
• Reducing the number of 11-15 year olds stating
they have been bullied in the last 12 months is a
stretch target within the Herts LAA 06/07
Hertfordshire County Council
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Key Documents
• ’Don’t Suffer in Silence’ and The Anti
Bullying Charter from the DfES
• Hertfordshire Anti Bullying Toolkit
• New DCSF guidance titled ‘Safe to Learn’
includes Bullying around Race, Religion and
Culture (2006), Homophobic and Cyber
Bullying (Sept 07)
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
Contact / websites
• The Grid (schools intranet)
www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/healthy/bullying
• www.habi.org.uk (for young people by young
people)
• [email protected]
• 01582 830299 / 07785 594794
• Also lead on mental health & emotional well
being – see www.fgwherts.nhs.uk
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org
People don’t bully if…
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They have secure relationships
They feel good about themselves
They have empathy for others
They are emotionally literate
• Every adult has a part to play in helping kids
develop these attributes
Hertfordshire County Council
www.hertsdirect.org