Woodlawn School is a creative, enterprising, innovative, community in which we all: 

• Develop learning for life, lifelong learning 

• Are happy, healthy and heard 

• Widen aspirations through innovative technology 

• Empower families 

• Communicate effectively 

• Maximise independence 

• Nurture core values of respect and friendship 

• Promote inclusive communities 

• Extend confidence 

• Ensure inspiring positive partnerships 

• Celebrate and extend creativity 

​

Intent 
We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a ‘TELLING’ school. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the staff. Pupils will be given the opportunity to have 1-1 time with staff or a preferred professional if they appear unhappy in school. They will be given access to a range of communication aids to ensure that they can express their individual need. It is recognised that given the pupils learning difficulties and challenging behaviour there may be occasions on which they hurt or upset other pupils but that this will be unintentional and so will not constitute bullying. However it remains vital that the young person who is hurt and their family feels that their issues have been taken seriously and resolved. 

What Is Bullying? 
Bullying is “Behaviour by an individual or a group, usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual either physically or emotionally”. 

Bullying can be: 

• Emotional 

• being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures) 

• Physical 

• pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence 

• Racist 

• racial taunts, graffiti, gestures 

• Sexual 

• unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments 

• Verbal 

• name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing 

• Cyber 

all areas of internet ,such as email & internet chat room misuse Mobile threats by text messaging & calls Misuse of associated technology, i.e. camera &video facilities 

Homophobic 
is when people behave or speak in a way which makes someone feel bullied because of their actual or perceived sexuality. People may be a target of this type of bullying because of their appearance, behaviour, name calling, spreading of rumours, other physical traits or seen as being different. 

Why is it Important to Respond to Bullying? 
Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving. We have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying. Parents must feel that they can contact school with any concerns about their child’s emotional well being at school. 

Objectives of this Policy 

• All governors, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is. 

• All governors and teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported. 

• All pupils and parents should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises. 

• As a school we take bullying seriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported. 

• Bullying will not be tolerated. 

Signs and Symptoms 
All our pupils are individuals and staff are trained and committed to recognising individual need. Every child is different but may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child: 

• Doesn’t want to go on the taxi or transport. 

• changes their usual routine 

• is unwilling to go to school 

• becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence 

• starts stammering 

• cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares 

• feels ill in the morning 

• begins to do poorly in school work 

• has possessions which are damaged or " go missing" 

• has unexplained cuts or bruises 

• becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable 

• is bullying other children or siblings 

• stops eating 

• is frightened to say what's wrong 

• gives improbable excuses for any of the above 

• Appears quiet in class 

• Seeks reassurance in certain situations. 

These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated. We pride ourselves in the knowledge of individual pupils and staff will recognise any unusual behaviour or a change in how the person presents. 

Procedures 

• Report bullying incidents to staff 

• In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be recorded by staff 

• In serious cases parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem 

• If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted 

• The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly 

• An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour 

Outcomes 

• The bully (bullies) may be asked to genuinely apologise. Other consequences may take place. 

• If possible, the pupils will be reconciled 

• Pupils will be educated in PSHE sessions as a whole group. 

• After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.

• Risk assessments will be put in place for identified pupils and shared between home and school. 

 

Prevention 
We will use a variety of methods for helping children to prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include: 

• Displaying pupil friendly posters around school. 

• signing a behaviour contract 

• writing stories or poems or drawing pictures about bullying 

• reading stories about bullying or having them read to a class or assembly 

• making up role-plays 

• having discussions about bullying and why it matters 

• Rewarding positive behaviour through school systems 

• Anti bullying day once per academic year in line with anti bullying week. 

• Links to other professionals i.e. Public Health Team 

• Direct teaching in PSHE lessons including work on safe internet usage. 

​

HELP ORGANISATIONS: 
Advsory Centre for Education (ACE) 020 7354 8321 
Chldren's Legal Centre 0845 345 4345 
KIDSCAPE Parents Helpline (Mon-Fri, 10-4) 0845 1 205 204 
Parentline Plus 0808 800 2222 

Youth Access 020 8772 9900 

Bullying Online www.bullying.co.uk 

Visit the Kidscape website www.kidscape.org.uk for further support, links and advice.

The Anti Bullying Alliance www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk