Download Bullying - Broadwater Public School

Broadwater Public School
Our School Anti-Bullying Plan
Anti-Bullying Plan – Broadwater Public School
Our School Anti-Bullying Plan
This plan outlines the processes for preventing and
responding to student bullying in our school and reflects
the Bullying: Preventing and Responding to Student
Bullying in Schools Policy of the New South Wales
Department of Education and Communities.
Our school community will have opportunities to discuss, provide feedback
and comment on their understandings of bullying through parent
representative meetings and general discussions. This in turn will feed into
the content our Anti-Bullying Plan. Students and staff will also be provided
with opportunities to discuss bullying, their perceptions of it in our school
and strategies to prevent it happening.
Statement of purpose
Broadwater Public School students have the right to come to school to fully
engage in teaching and learning activities and their daily school life without
any fear for their safety or well-being.
For students to positively engage in the educational opportunities at
Broadwater Public School they have an absolute right to learn in an
environment where they feel safe from any form of bullying. Any
inappropriate behaviour that inhibits another student’s right to learn or
otherwise interferes with their well-being cannot, and will not, be tolerated.
Protection
Bullying is repeated incidents involving the misuse of power by an individual
or group towards one or more other people. Cyberbullying refers to bullying
through information and communication technologies. Bullying is different
from ordinary teasing, rough and tumble or school yard fights. What makes
Anti-Bullying Plan – Broadwater Public School
it different is that the incidents are ongoing and there is usually an
imbalance of size, strength and power between the children involved. The
bully may also have the power because other children side with the bully to
protect themselves.
Conflict or fights between equals or single incidents are not defined as
bullying.
All members of the school community including students, school staff,
parents and caregivers have a shared responsibility to actively work
together to eliminate and resolve incidents of bullying behaviour when they
occur and to create a safe and happy environment, free from all forms of
bullying. This includes:

Contributing to the prevention of bullying by modelling and promoting
appropriate social behaviour and respectful relationships.

Supporting the school’s Anti-Bullying Plan through their individual
words and actions.

Assisting students to understand and identify bullying behaviour as
outlined in this plan.

Supporting all students in the school to deal effectively with
bullying
through strategies in the Anti-Bullying Plan.
Prevention
The following strategies and programs will be implemented to support
bullying prevention in our school.

Give clear messages about expected behaviours in our school as
indicated in our Student Welfare and Discipline Policy.

Promotion of the school’s Positive Behaviour Award system.

Each class will engage in teaching and learning activities included in
our Bullying unit in Term 1 each year. This will include an explicit
outline of the school’s Anti-bullying Plan.

Senior primary students will have access to Cybersmart Hero (online
in–school activity)

Recognition of National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence
(March)

Engaging in activities from the bullyingnoway.com.au website.

Display bully-free school posters, encourage reporting of incidents
and encourage empathy.
Early Intervention
Early intervention strategies and programs to support students identified as
being at risk of developing long-term difficulties with social relationships and
those students who are identified at or after enrolment as having previously
experienced bullying or engaged in bullying behaviour will include:

Developing a clear understanding of the Student Welfare and
Discipline Policy and the Anti-Bullying Plan.

Ensure student has access to School Counsellor services

Set up a 'buddy' system where students form a support group for
the identified student(s).

Ensure activities concerned with Bullying, including strategies to deal
with it, are a part of teaching and learning programs in the school.
Response
Broadwater Public School will provide detailed information about bullying to
our school community to empower them to recognize and respond
appropriately to any form of bullying that may occur.
Our Anti-bullying Plan outlines the responsibilities of all concerned parties
including students, staff, parents, carers and the wider school community.
The process to be followed when a bullying incident occurs is outlined in the
flowchart attached to this plan. See Anti Bullying Action Plan.
The following strategies and programs will be implemented to support
students who have been affected by bullying behavior:

Ensure students involved have access to School Counsellor services if
deemed necessary.

Planned meetings between student(s) and Principal to discuss ongoing
welfare.

Teach assertiveness skills and place students in situations where
they experience success (empowering).

Action Plan followed when incident occurs.
The school newsletter and personal communications will provide the means to
deliver updates to parents and caregivers about the management of bullying
incidents at school. Aspects of privacy legislation will be given the highest
consideration.
Where a serious disciplinary matter arises involving, but not limited to,
assault, threats, intimidation or harassment the principal may contact the
NSW Police Force.
If the principal becomes aware of a child protection concern they must
identify whether the risk of harm to the child or young person is suspected
to be 'significant' or not. To guide this decision and in deciding what
subsequent action needs to be taken, a Mandatory Reporter Guide has been
Anti-Bullying Plan – Broadwater Public School
developed. We will use this Mandatory Reporter Guide to assist us to
determine whether a report to the Child Protection Helpline (Community
Services) is required. Where assistance is required in making this decision,
or using the Mandatory Reporter Guide, the Child Wellbeing Unit will be
contacted by telephone on (02) 9269 9400.
Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
Students and parents may appeal if they consider that correct procedures
have not been followed, and/or that an unfair decision has been reached.
Principal’s comment
Students or parents requiring assistance where they believe an unfair
decision has been made should contact Regional Office. Regional Office
personnel should identify appropriate support people for the student or
parents if this type of assistance is requested.
The NSW Department of Education and Communities (DEC) seeks to resolve
difficulties, grievances and complaints in a prompt, impartial and just
manner. Principles of fairness, accessibility, transparency, responsiveness,
accountability and constructiveness are paramount when dealing with a
complaint.
bullyingnoway.com.au
This Anti-Bullying Plan has been developed by the staff of Broadwater Public
School in consultation with our students and the school community. Bullying of
any kind has no place in our school and all measures will be taken to ensure
student’s well-being and safety. We expect our school to be a safe place for
students to learn and teachers to teach.
Stephen Curtin – Principal
Sandra Williams – Teacher
Linda Wythes – Teacher
This Anti-Bullying Plan will be published on our school website under the
Student Welfare link. Parents will be made aware of this link through our
School Newsletter.
Rebecca Dicinoski – Senior Administration Manager
As part of our weekly staff meetings student welfare issues are discussed.
If there has been an incident of bullying, staff will take the opportunity to
discuss the incident and determine the effectiveness of the Anti Bullying
Action Plan. Staff will also determine the effectiveness of the prevention
and response strategies used.
School contact information
The Anti-Bullying Plan will be reviewed every three years through a school
community survey. This survey will determine the school community’s
perceptions and understandings about bullying and whether strategies in
place are working in our school.
02 66828136
Additional Information
Straun Presgrave -Police Youth Liaison Officer 02 6626 0599
Anti-Bullying Plan – Broadwater Public School
Broadwater Public School
Pacific Highway Broadwater
02 66828226
[email protected]
www.broadwater-p.schools.nsw.edu.au