Anti-Bullying Policy
Aim Westview Playgroup is committed to provide a safe, welcoming and free from bullying environment for children (the persistent behaviour by any individual or group which intimidates/threatens or has a distressing, harmful impact on another individual or group).
Definition Bullying can be: Physical, Emotional, Racist, Verbal, Psychological, Sexual or Cyber (e.g. text messages). Physical Pushing, scratching, spitting, kicking, hitting, biting, taking or damaging belongings, punching or using any sort of violence against another person. Emotional Being deliberately unkind, excluding another child from a group or tormenting them for example, forcing another child to be “left out “of activity, game. Making fun of another person. Verbal Using words to attack, name calling, threaten or insult for example, making fun of another child’s appearance. Psychological Behaviour which is likely to instil a sense of fear or anxiety in another child.
We recognise that legitimate play behaviour may include many of these facts, but when one or more parties becomes targeted on a frequent and recurrent basis the experience of those affected can be extremely negative. In the rare cases where harmful behaviour is defined as bullying and despite all efforts to prevent it, we will respond to all incidents sensitively. Procedures
● Staff will inform the Manager if they witness an incident of bullying at the preschool.
● Children will be encouraged to report any incident of alleged bullying and will be reassured that what they say will be taken seriously and handled sensitively.
● If a child or Staff tells someone they are being bullied, they will be given time to explain what has happened and reassured they were right to tell.
● The Manager will always ask the alleged bully to explain their side and take into account their response when deciding whether bullying has occurred.
● If it is decided that bullying behaviour has occurred then in most cases, the behaviour can be addressed by using the procedures laid out in our behaviour policy. The alleged bully will be encouraged to discuss their behaviour and think through the consequences of their actions. Where appropriate, they will be encouraged to talk through the incident with the other person/people involved.
● We will inform the parents of all children involved in the alleged bullying incident at the earliest opportunity.
● All children involved in any bullying incident will be offered support. The Manager may contact Early Years Advisor to advise about local support groups. These will be passed to the children’s parents.
● Where bullying behaviour persists, the alleged bully’s parents will receive a letter