Maple Tree's definition of Bullying

Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power (Anti-bullying Alliance agreed definition). It can happen face to face or online (cyber-bullying). This may include sexist, homophobic or racist comments. We teach the children S.T.O.P (Several Times On Purpose).

Forms of Bullying:

• Using offensive names when addressing another person
• Teasing or spreading rumours about another person or his/her family
• Belittling another person’s abilities and achievements
• Writing offensive notes or graffiti about another person
• Demands for money or possessions
• Interfering with, damaging, removing/stealing or hiding belongings of others.
• Excluding or isolating someone on purpose from a group or activity
• Physical violence such as hitting, pushing or spitting at another person
• Ridiculing another person’s appearance, way of speaking or personal mannerisms.
• Verbal abuse
• Misusing technology to hurt or humiliate another person

Procedures for dealing with incidents of bullying behaviour:

The named person for overseeing Bullying and Anti-Bullying is Miss Hyde, Deputy Head.

• Immediate intervention - set in motion agreed anti-bullying procedures.
• Steps taken to support and respond to the needs of both bullied and bullying pupils.
• Fill in the ‘Bullying and Prejudice’ incident form. Central records kept.
• Contacting parents/carers of all pupils concerned in the bullying incident.
• Investigation.
• Feedback to those concerned.
• Sanctions where appropriate.   In serious cases may include exclusion.
• Contacting relevant professionals eg. School counsellor/Police

Anti-Bullying Alliance School Award Programme

We are excited to announce that we have signed up to the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s school award programme called ‘United Against Bullying’. It supports schools to reduce bullying and improve the wellbeing of all children, focusing on those most at risk.

As part of this programme, the school, led by Miss Hyde, are going to be reviewing our approach to Anti-bullying in the following areas:

• Anti-bullying policy - review our current policy and update with input from pupils, parents/carers and staff.
• Reporting and recording bullying - review how bullying is currently reported (how and to who) and how it is recorded and monitored by school leaders.
• Prevention and awareness—consider how the school teaches children about bullying in order to raise awareness and prevent it from happening.
• Acting on reports— explore how we support children experiencing bullying—both those being bullied or being the bully.
• Staff training—review how staff across school are trained in relation to anti-bullying by assessing their current subject knowledge.
•  Focus on vulnerable groups—explore how the voices of all pupils are included and how we can best support our most vulnerable pupils.

What has happened so far?

Monday 14th November 2022 was the start of Anti-Bullying week. During this week we launched the theme for this year, which is ‘Reach Out’ through a whole school assembly. Monday 14th was also ‘odd socks’ day, where the children were encouraged to wear odd socks as an opportunity to encourage people to express themselves, celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique!

During Anti-Bullying week, in class, children were taught about what bullying is and undertook lessons on how to combat bullying. Pupils undertook a survey, created a new whole school pledge and showed off their learning in an open afternoon to parents. 

Click on the photo below to see more about how we marked Anti-Bullying week November 2022.

For further information on bullying and how to support your child you can look on the parents pages of the Anti - bullying alliance at www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk  or from the CBBC website https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/curations/anti-bullying-week