Dos and Don’ts of managing bullying in schools
Here we look at Managing school bullying. Did you know this week is anti-bullying week? Therefore, we have listed some tips for our supply teachers and support staff to use. You probably agree that bullying behaviour has been around for many years. However, we are more aware than ever about the need to stop it.
Firstly, the experience of being bullied is not just something that children go through as part of school life. Above all, it can cause long-term damage for the victim as well as the bully. In an addition to our dos and don’ts list set out below, we look at how fostering kindness can help shape better behaviour in the classroom.
Don’ts of managing school bullying
- As a supply teacher don’t forget to read your school’s anti-bullying policy
- Don’t deny bullying is an issue
- Don’t make them feel like it is their fault
- Don’t be dismissive
- Don’t disbelieve them
- Don’t ever tell children to just ignore it
- Don’t forget to do what you said you would do about it
- Don’t make an unrealistic promise
- Don’t tell them they need to change who they are
- Don’t use or refer to stereotypes when it comes to tackling bullying
Do’s of managing school bullying
- Do develop a talking culture in your school about bullying
- Do ask if there is anything you could do differently to stop bullying
- Do support children to speak out if they or someone they know is being bullied
- Do make it clear how pupils can report bullying
- Do take what they say seriously and ask them what they want to happen
- Do take time to find out who else is involved as usually its more than one individual
- Do reassure them that you can make it stop
- Do make it routine practice for children to have telephone numbers of helplines like Childline
- Do record all your actions
- Do make sure your Anti-Bullying Policy is up to date
- Do challenge all forms of offensive or discriminatory language in your school
Fostering kindness alongside addressing negative behaviour encourages natural socially appropriate behaviour that will be a foundation for development into adulthood.
The act of kindness helps us experience positive mental changes as well as physical ones by reducing our stress levels and increasing the body’s production of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. It’s important when looking at anti-bullying management, to not only address negative behaviour but to teach positive behaviour in particular compassion and kindness. Learning about acts of kindness and compassion, can impact children’s values which will motivate positive behaviour as they feel naturally rewarded through their own feel-good hormones, from teachers, and within their friendship group.