As a Church of England School we believe that each child is unique and precious to God and that our school should be a place where children can flourish free from fear or harm, learning to treat each other as they would wish to be treated themselves. The Christian faith provides the basis from which we learn how to treat each other and be a community. Our Anti-bullying Policy is underpinned by these core truths.

At our school we value all children equally and raise their self-esteem and self confidence.  We have a caring ethos and high expectations, encouraging all children to respect and look after each other, and to be proud of their school.  We do not have a bullying problem at Stratford School, because we employ many strategies and systems to combat bullying.  When incidents do happen, they are taken very seriously by the Head Teacher who works with speed and consideration to resolve the issue.

Our definition of bullying

There is no legal definition of bullying, although some forms of bullying do constitute illegal acts.

At Stratford-sub-Castle Primary School we believe:

Bullying is an unprovoked action taken by one or more children with the deliberate intention of hurting another child, either physically or emotionally. It is the wilful, conscious desire to hurt, threaten or frighten someone. It may be aimed at certain groups, e.g. because of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. It includes homophobic and trans-phobic bullying. Bullying takes many forms and can include:

• physical assault
• teasing
• making threats
• name calling
• cyberbullying – bullying via mobile phone or online (e.g. email, social networks and instant messenger)

As a school community we:

• • promote positive image and high self-esteem
  • nurture a sense of social responsibility and community
  • foster tolerance, respect and consideration for other
  • find bullying unacceptable and believe it damages individual children and therefore our whole community.

We work with all children to encourage the rejection of bullying behaviour within the school, and work with both the bullying and bullied pupils to help prevent further incidents.

The staff are skilled in behaviour management and closely follow the Behaviour for Learning Policy, which provides a calm, safe atmosphere in the school. In particular, we:

• adopt a Restorative Justice Approach
• provide a warm, caring and safe environment where all children and staff are equally valued and happy
• encourage, reward and value appropriate behaviour
• teach children exactly what bullying is and encourage them to discuss the issues arising
• help children to be responsible for their own words, actions and the consequences of them
• enable children to understand their rights and responsibilities, follow codes of behaviour, whilst giving them space to sort out minor conflicts on their own
• make it clear to children that we will not tolerate any form of bullying
• respond to and resolve conflict before it gets out of hand
• immediately follow up any bullying incident. Action is always taken
• ensure that children who bully know that there are clear and consistent sanctions as a result of their behaviour
• support victims and ensure they feel the issue has been firmly and fairly dealt with, and they feel safe and happy in returning to school
• keep parents fully informed.

For the Anti-Bullying Policy, Behaviour for Life & Learning Policy, Online Safety Policy and other relevant policies, go to the Policies section of the website.