Principles for policy development
- An anti-bullying policy is a clear commitment to developing a respectful, equitable and inclusive culture and ethos. Cultures that encourage trust and respect, recognise and celebrate difference and promote positive behaviour, are less likely to see bullying as acceptable behaviour.
- Successful implementation requires the strategic intent of anti-bullying policy to be translated and embedded into effective, everyday practice. Anti-bullying practice should be focused towards prevention, response and inclusivity, with these positive intentions being consistently experienced by children and young people.
- Anti-bullying policy should document all of the procedures and practices relating to anti-bullying in your setting and be made widely accessible and available to stakeholders.
- An organisation cannot be consistent or fair in how it responds to bullying behaviour unless all staff work to the same policy. For meaningful impact, full ownership of the policy is essential, including a process of engagement and consultation with the people who are responsible for its implementation. This should be a values-based and inclusive exercise undertaken with the people who will be impacted most by the policy, namely children and young people, their parents/carers, and staff and volunteers. This will help all stakeholders understand what is expected of them, and how they may expect to be supported by local authorities, schools and independent organisations.
- Anti-bullying policies should reflect ‘child-friendly’ places, acknowledge children as agents in their own lives and encourage them as active participants and influencers of the atmosphere and culture in schools and organisations. Child-friendly versions of the anti-bullying policy and associated processes should be produced through consultation, using a rights-based lens.
- lndividual schools, services or clubs should develop policies that reflect Respect for All – The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland’s Children and Young People and the wider policy context in Scotland. Where a school does not have its own anti-bullying policy, the appropriate Local Authority policy will apply by default.
- Once developed, anti-bullying policy and procedures should be readily accessible, openly communicated and shared widely through a variety of channels to ensure that stakeholders know what support they can expect from staff/volunteers if bullying occurs, and how bullying incidents will be responded to and formally recorded.
- Constant reinforcement of the message that bullying is never acceptable helps to create safe and secure environments which are conducive to positive relationships, learning, teaching and play.
