As a school, we are always looking for ways in which we can improve. We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for our pupils, so they can learn and play in a secure environment. The school treats all reported incidents of bullying-type-behaviour and bullying seriously.
Donisthorpe Primary School is committed to being a ‘telling school’: all pupils and adults should be able to tell someone they trust and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Anyone who knows that bullying is happening is also expected to tell someone they trust. Our pupils are encouraged to be a power for good to make our school a safe and welcoming place. We have been working with staff, pupils and parents to create a school community where bullying is not tolerated. We have now been awarded the Leicestershire County Council’s Beyond Bullying Silver Award. This award is given in recognition of the schools work to further improve the culture in the school and for its achievements in embedding effective anti-bullying practice. Well done everyone, particularly to Mrs Heath who leads on this in school. What is 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. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online.
We view bullying in line with the Equality Act (2010) and all the protected characteristics of:
Types of BullyingBullying based on disability (disablist) – is where the motivation for bullying is based on the target’s real or perceived disability, special need, gifted or talented or health conditions or association with someone in those categories or association with someone with a disability/special need.
Bullying based on gender reassignment (transphobic) – is when the motivation for bullying relates to the target being trans, or perceived to be trans, or their gender or gender identity being seen as different to typical gender norms. A person could also be targeted because they have a trans family member. Bullying based on race or ethnicity (racist) - is where the motivation for bullying is based on the targets skin colour, culture, language, ethnicity or national origin. Bullying based on religion or belief – is where the motivation for bullying relates to the target’s beliefs, faith, or identity. It may also be because of a perception or assumption about religion, belief or lack of belief (which may or may not be accurate), or because of their association with an individual or group of a particular religion or belief. Bullying based on sexual orientation (homophobic or biphobic) – is where the motivation for bullying is based on the target’s sexual orientation, or perceived orientation, or that of their family/friends and/or homophobic/biphobic abuse and language used. Bisexual people may experience homophobic bullying, but they are also likely to experience biphobic bullying. Bullying based on sex (sexist) – is where the motivation for bullying is based on sexist language, attitudes and behaviours that when expressed demean, intimidate or harm another person because of their sex or gender. Definitions for other forms of bullying Bullying based on appearance or health conditions – is where the motivation for bullying relates to the target’s physical appearance (e.g. hair colour, body shape, or clothing), or a health condition (e.g. a disfigurement, a traumatic injury, or severe skin condition). Bullying based on home circumstance – is where the motivation for bullying is based on the target’s living arrangements (e.g. being a young carer or a child in care), geographic locality (i.e. where they live), their class background, whether they are from a low income family or in receipt of free school meals. Bullying can be: • Psychological: being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting, intimidation. Unkindness linked to SEND, appearance or health conditions or related home circumstances. • Physical: jostling, pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence, theft, extortion, damaging someone’s property, unwanted physical contact • Verbal: name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing, etc, sexually abusive comments • Cyber/ technology: All areas of internet, such as misuse of email, social media, apps, gaming, artificial intelligence and chat rooms. Telephone threats or hoaxes, inappropriate text messaging or use of camera & video facilities |
We are really proud to announce that we have achieved the Beyond Bullying Silver Award! Links to further advice and guidance around bullying:
Childline Mencap YoungMinds Anti-Bullying Alliance NSPCC |