Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection Officer
Sophia Hughes
sophia.hughes@lexiaeducation.co.uk
0117 427 4267
Date: 11th July 2024 (reviewed annually)
Policy Statement
Lexia Education Services Ltd takes bullying seriously, and it will not be tolerated. Pupils and parents should be assured that known incidents of bullying will be responded to. Lexia will seek ways to counter the effects of bullying that may occur through lessons, in the local community and through cyber channels. Bullying has the potential to damage the mental health of a victim. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect.
Aim and Scope
We recognise that if students feel safe, they are better able to realise the five outcomes of Every Child Matters – they can be healthy, enjoy and achieve, stay safe, make a positive contribution, and achieve economic well-being. Pupils who are bullying others need to learn different ways of behaving and staff should know how to recognise, report and record incidents that may occur.
Related Policies and Procedures
- Safeguarding Policy
- Behaviour Policy
What is bullying?
Bullying is unacceptable behaviour used by an individual or group, usually repeated over time that intentionally hurts another individual or group.
Bullying can be:
- Emotional – being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting
- Physical – pushing, kicking, biting, hitting, punching or any use of violence
- Racial – racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
- Sexual – unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
- Homophobic – because of, or focussing on the issue of sexuality
- Direct or indirect Verbal – name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
- Cyber bullying – All areas of internet, such as email, snapchat, Instagram, text messaging and calls etc.
- Damage to other people’s property
Tutors themselves must be careful not to highlight differences of children or an individual child, even if this is done in jest. Staff must reinforce a general message that children do not have to be friends with everyone else, but they must be respectful of everyone else’s feelings and be kind to each other. If a child feels that they are being bullied then there are several procedures that they are encouraged to follow
- Tell your tutor
- Tell a friend
- Tell your School Council rep or Anti-Bullying Team
- Tell a parent or adult at home whom you feel you can trust
- Ring Childline
Staff and tutors must remain vigilant about bullying behaviours and approach this in the same way as any other category of Child Abuse ie do not wait to be told before you raise concerns, or try to deal with the matter without sharing the information with Lexia’s designated safeguarding lead.
Tutors must be aware of those children who may be vulnerable pupils; those coming from troubled families, or those responding to emotional problems or mental health issues which may bring about a propensity to be unkind to others or may make them more likely to fall victim to the behaviour of others.
All known incidences of bullying must be reported to the Lexia Education Services Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection Officer.
The ethos and values at Lexia Education Services mean that all staff and tutors should actively encourage children to have respect for each other and for other people’s property. Good and kind/polite behaviour is regularly acknowledged, and positive choices are praised.
Staff and tutors will reinforce expectations of behaviour as a regular theme in line with our behaviour policy.
During and after any incident of bullying being investigated and dealt with, each case will be recorded and monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place. The Designated Safeguarding and Child Protection Officer will record and review any incidents in the log, along with sanctions and reconciliation.
Review
All staff have a responsibility to ensure that this policy and the procedures within it are fully implemented. This policy must be regularly reviewed and updated based on feedback from tutors, changing circumstances, or new regulations. Lexia Education Services Ltd will ensure that the policy remains relevant and effective, ensuring the safety of tutors and students.