Anti Bully Policy

Anti Bully Policy

RATIONALE
At TOPP KIDS Out of School Clubs/Foundation we work to
promote a positive culture where bullying is not accepted, and
in doing so, all will have the right of respect from others, the right to learn or lead, and a right to feel
safe and secure in the program’s environment.

PURPOSE
We aim to promote tolerance and positive behaviour in the TOPP KIDS community;

• Reinforcing within the program community that no form of bullying is acceptable.
• Encouraging the children to be alert to signs and evidence of bullying and to have a
  responsibility to report it to an educator whether as observer or victim.
• Ensuring that all reported incidents of bullying are followed up and that support is given to
  the victim, perpetrator and all other individuals involved.
• Seeking parental and peer group support and co-operation at all times.

TYPES OF BULLYING
There are 4 broad categories of bullying:

• Direct physical bullying could include hitting, tripping, and pushing or damaging the property
  of others.
• Direct verbal bullying could include name-calling, insults, homophobic or racist remarks,
  verbal abuse.
• Cyber bullying could include slander, name-calling, insults, homophobic or racist remarks,
  verbal abuse.
• Indirect bullying is harder to recognize and often carried out behind the bullied student’s
  back. It is designed to harm someone’s social reputation and/or cause humiliation. Indirect
  bullying could include:
  o lying and spreading rumors
  o playing nasty jokes to embarrass and humiliate
  o mimicking
  o encouraging others to socially exclude someone
  o damaging someone’s social reputation and social acceptance

WHAT BULLYING IS NOT
There are three socially unpleasant situations that are often confused with bullying:

• Mutual conflict – In mutual conflict situations, there is an argument or disagreement
  between participants but not an imbalance of power. Both parties are upset, and usually,
  both want a resolution to the problem.
• Social rejection or dislike -Unless the social rejection is directed towards someone specific
  and involves deliberate and repeated attempts to cause distress, exclude or create dislike
  by others, it is not bullying.
• Single-episode acts of nastiness or meanness, or random acts of aggression or intimidation
• Single episodes of nastiness or physical aggression are not the same as bullying. If a
  participant is verbally abused or pushed on one occasion, they are not being bullied.

IMPLEMENTATION
Our educators, parents and their children are required to play an active role in the implementation
of our anti-bullying strategies.

ANTI- BULLYING STRATEGIES

• Program to include open discussions on anti-bullying strategies in random or during daily
  meetings.
• Copies of the Anti-Bullying Policy and Procedures will be sent out to all parents and families
  new to the program in their introduction package. Copies of the policies can be obtained
  from the Program Coordinator or viewed on the TOPP KIDS website.
• Encourage children to report incidents and assist them in adopting strategies to deal with
  bullying
• Monitoring computer use.

EDUCATOR RESPONSIBILITY

• Consistently reinforce positive behaviour
• Encourage and model tolerance and acceptance
• Be observant of signs of distress or suspected incidents of bullying
• Confer with parents if necessary
• Communication between Educators using our Staff Communication Book listing names of
  children requiring attention.
• Take steps to help victims and remove source of distress
• Listen and respond to all complaints of bullying
• Keep a record of children’s unacceptable behaviour (Observation Book)
• Report incidents of behaviour to parents
• Monitor computer use

CHILDREN’S RESPONSIBILITY

• Refuse to be involved in bullying situations
• Report suspected incidents to our team, either as an observer or a victim
• Behave in a way that reflects their understanding of the Anti- Bullying Policy

PARENT’S RESPONSIBILITY

• Take an active interest in their child’s school life to be aware of any problems
• Encourage their child to report and deal with the problem themselves
• Encourage their child to be verbally assertive rather than retaliate with action
• Communicate to the program that their child is being bullied
• Monitor computer use

STRATEGIES FOR PARENTS
See permanent posting on bulletin boards in the program.

FOLLOW UP

• Educators are to complete a report in the Observations Book – Report on Incident of Bullying
• Educators and Assistant Principal/Principal will continue to monitor the situation
• Implementation of our Child Guidance Policies discipline procedures.