Training staff to respond to bullying

Last updated on 20 November 2020

All staff who are in the front line dealing with pupils’ complaints about each other need to be trained in effective ways of responding. The following notes may be helpful to use in discussing this issue. The importance of some of these key messages may need to be emphasised, for example, asking the child to come up with possible solutions, believing that a child can change and involving peers.

Help for children who feel bullied	Help for children who bully
don’t ignore listen and talk ask child for suggestions find out about feelings agree next steps / way forward build self-esteem and confidence praise and reinforce reporting develop and practise appropriate responses ensure not isolated, peer support practise skills	ask for explanation explain why behaviour unacceptable criticise behaviour, not child awareness of impact and consequences seek to repair relationship seek ways to change behaviour believe in change praise change and appropriate behaviour meet attention and esteem needs ensure not isolated, peer support practise skills

If playground supervisors know the conflict resolution strategies that pupils have been taught they can ask children whether they have tried to use them in sorting out disputes and support pupils in doing so.

Of course supervisors and teachers also need to be aware that some pupils will not tell anyone that they are being bullied and it is therefore important to look out for the signs and symptoms.

Signs and symptoms
avoiding interaction avoiding eye contact bite marks, bruises cries easily refusing to attend school refusing to say what’s wrong quietness	staying behind to help/chat upset tummy, feeling unwell personality changes unexplained injuries

There is always a reason why someone uses bully behaviour. When a child is repeatedly involved in hurtful behaviour, responses need to get to the bottom of their triggers or pay offs if there is to be any effective change.

Last updated on 20 November 2020