Being bullied can cause long term psychological consequences for children and young people. It has significant affects on self esteem and well being. It can get in the way of children and young people reaching their potential academically and socially.
In recent years the understanding of what bullying is and how to manage it has been transformed in settings. The use of bullying policies and increased sensitivity to the needs of victims and perpetrators has made a difference. Despite this bullying still remains a huge issue both in, and outside of settings, and the dawn of social media has added another dimension to the complexity of managing the issue.
Settings should have an anti-bullying policy as a part of the broader behaviour management strategy. Creating an anti-bullying policy collaboratively with young people can be an effective way of the whole setting taking ownership of a zero-tolerance approach.
Setting Culture
The values and culture of a setting makes the difference to whether bullying becomes an entrenched and persistent problem. Key messages could include;
Disclosure
If you discover a child in your setting is being bullied prompt and decisive action can make all the difference to the long term outcome of the person being bullied and the person bullying.
Take time to understand what has happened - and how the child or young person is feeling.
It is important that the child feels confident that it is good that people know about the bullying and that the setting will take action to make things better.
Resources
Bullying UK
Anti-Bullying Alliance
The Anti-Bullying Alliance provides resources as part of their 'All Together' a whole school anti-bullying programme:
Kidscape
Information on bullying for those working with children and here are some of their resources:
E-Learning
'All Our Health' offer free, bite-sized e-learning sessions - to improve the knowledge, confidence and skills of health and care professionals in preventing illness, protecting health and promoting wellbeing. The sessions cover some of the biggest issues in public health including;
They contain signposting to trusted sources of helpful evidence, guidance and support to help professionals embed prevention in their everyday practice.
Shelf Help - Reading Well
