ST THOMAS
CE PRIMARY SCHOOL
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Anti-bullying
Have you ever wondered why some children may bully?
At St Thomas, we believe that everyone belongs and has a part to play in creating a happy, safe and respectful school community. We make a conscious effort to get to know one another, celebrate our differences and ensure that everyone feels valued.
When children feel safe, respected and connected, they are more likely to show kindness and consideration towards others. However, from time to time, children may make poor choices, behave unkindly, be rude, say hurtful things or exclude others. When this happens, we work together to help children understand the impact of their actions, take responsibility and make positive changes.
We do not want any child to feel isolated, unhappy or unsupported. By encouraging empathy, respect and positive relationships, we help children to develop the skills they need to treat others with kindness and dignity. Together, we can create a school where everyone feels respected, included and able to thrive.
The word 'UNITED' means together, so let's work together to learn and be safe together!
Welcome to our anti-bullying safe place.
At St Thomas CE Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels safe, valued and respected. We do not tolerate bullying, nor do we accept behaviour that is unkind, mean, rude, hurtful or deliberately excludes others.
The information, documents and guidance on this page explain how we support children and families when concerns arise. Our school promotes open communication between staff, pupils and parents, and we believe that concerns can often be resolved most effectively through early conversations and positive partnerships.
We recognise that children can sometimes be unkind to one another. They may fall out with friends, say hurtful things, make poor choices or behave disrespectfully. While these behaviours are unacceptable and will always be addressed, they are not necessarily bullying.
Bullying is different. It is behaviour that is deliberately hurtful, repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power, making it difficult for the victim to defend themselves.
When concerns are raised, the school carefully investigates the situation, gathers information from those involved and takes appropriate action. All investigations are handled sensitively and confidentially. Our main priority is always to stop harmful behaviour, support children involved and restore positive relationships where possible.
Children are encouraged to share worries with trusted adults throughout the school day. We actively promote pupil voice and teach children how to speak up when something does not feel right. Early communication is often the quickest and most effective way to resolve concerns.
The school has a responsibility to ensure all children are safe and that concerns are managed fairly, respectfully and in the best interests of everyone involved.
Understanding the Difference
Children will sometimes:
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Have disagreements or arguments with friends.
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Experience friendship difficulties or fall-outs.
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Say something thoughtless, rude or unkind.
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Behave disrespectfully towards others.
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Have occasional conflicts with peers.
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These situations can be upsetting and will always be supported by school staff. However, they may not meet the definition of bullying.
Bullying is:
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Deliberate
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Repeated over time
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Intended to cause harm or distress
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Involves an imbalance of power
This may be verbal, physical, emotional, social or online (cyberbullying).
Working Together When Concerns Arise
If your child tells you they are being bullied or has experienced unkind behaviour:
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Listen calmly and carefully to what has happened.
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Reassure your child that they have done the right thing by speaking to you.
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Gather key information such as who was involved, what happened, where it occurred and whether it has happened before.
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Contact your child's class teacher as the first point of contact.
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Allow the school time to investigate and gather information from all parties involved.
Please do not approach other children, parents or use social media to discuss concerns. Doing so can escalate situations and make investigations more difficult.
We understand that concerns about your child can be upsetting. We therefore ask that all concerns are raised respectfully and that conclusions are not drawn about another child before the school has had the opportunity to investigate fully.
By working together, families and school staff can ensure that children feel safe, supported and confident that concerns will be addressed appropriately.
Our approach is not about blame or retribution. It is about understanding what has happened, stopping harmful behaviour, supporting all children involved and helping them learn from their experiences.
Your child has the right to feel safe in school and it is our combined responsibility to ensure this happens. Effective systems can be put in place though good communication to prevent further concerns.
