Anti-Bullying Policy

Rationale – why are we making this policy?
Making the cheder a safe, welcoming environment that children want to come to in order to see their Jewish friends every week is central to our aims. We believe that every child has the right to feel safe, to be proud of their individuality and to say ‘no’ to something they think is wrong. Bullying is not, therefore, tolerated at the cheder.

Aims – what do we want to achieve as a result of this policy being implemented?

• To ensure all staff, parents and children are aware of what constitutes bullying and how it will be dealt with
• To encourage teachers, parents and pupils to accept shared responsibility for ensuring that bullying does not happen, and for taking action if it does
• To have a consistent procedure for dealing with any bullying incident

Policy into practice – what will we do to ensure our aims are achieved?

• The Head Teacher will communicate policy to pupils, staff and parents
• An age-appropriate poster will be put up in each classroom for the children to regularly refer to
• Each term, teachers will remind pupils of the key points of the policy as part of discussions about behaviour
• Pupils will be told that the cheder takes bullying very seriously. If they are being bullied, or believe someone else is, they must talk to friends or a teacher about it because if others do not know, they cannot help.
• Teachers and parents will be encouraged to be alert to any signs of distress and to report them at the earliest opportunity to the Head Teacher

Monitoring, evaluation and review

• Staff will gather evidence to show the policy is being translated into practice, reporting back at a half-termly staff meeting and highlighting strengths and areas for further development
• Parents and the Education Committee will be asked to give their views on how well the policy is being translated into practice via e.g. a simple questionnaire
• The Education Committee will evaluate and review the policy no later than a year after its implementation

A definition of bullying for the Cheder

• Bullying is behaviour which is hurtful, repeated over time and difficult for its victims to defend themselves against
• Whilst very occasionally unintended by the perpetrator, it is usually deliberate
• It affects the safety, happiness, self-confidence, self-esteem, educational achievement, concentration and learning of pupils
• It can take any of the following forms:

1. Any physical violence, intimidation or threat made by one child or group of children against another
2. Belittling, undermining, humiliating or in any way spoiling a child’s self-esteem
3. Encouraging another person to do any of the above by proxy
4. Ignoring, excluding or disdaining the company of a classmate or making critical observations of another child because they are perceived to be different
5. Sending inappropriate or offensive notes, text messages or emails

Procedure for dealing with a bullying incident

As soon as possible after an incident has been reported, the child who has been bullied will be asked to talk to the Head Teacher and Rabbi; notes will be taken of the discussion. Parents will be informed that the meeting has taken place

The child/children believed to have been bullying will see the Head Teacher and Rabbi (there will always be 2 adults present at such a meeting) and again notes will be taken of the discussion. Depending on the severity of the incident, parents will be informed that the meeting has taken place

The child/children will be told the precise aspects of behaviour that are not acceptable and an attempt made to help them appreciate the effect of their actions on the victim

The child/children will be asked to think about what they can do to make amends (eg write a letter, apologise face to face) and make a commitment not to repeat the offending behaviour

An Incident Report will be completed and filed in the Resource Centre

In the case of one or more subsequent incidents, the Head Teacher will inform the child’s parents at which point a meeting will be arranged with them.

Updated 29.7.05