Working with Parents
To be most effective in dealing with bullying incidents schools
need to work in close partnership with parents. Many Hertfordshire
schools are addressing this directly:
- by including sections in their policy advising parents on
the role they can play and how they can best support their child
in any incident
- by developing a parents leaflet that can be referenced when
they have a concern.
Below are some of the kinds of things that could be included
in a parents leaflet.
Parents Leaflet - Possible Content
The school’s priorities in dealing with incidents – eg
- Providing a safe, secure and happy environment for all pupils
- Seeking to resolve incidents and repair relationships wherever possible
- definition of bullying – not all hurtful behaviour is bullying
but hurtful behaviour will be addressed.
The importance of working with parents in resolving incidents
- You are an important part of…
- If you have any concerns or worries about your child’s school
life please share them with a member of staff
- If your child shows changes in behaviour or shows signs such as…..,
sit down with them and try to establish the reasons
- It is important that parents exercise reasonable confidentiality
around incidents involving other children
- Please do not approach other parents or pupils directly, but refer
concerns to class teacher/form teacher/year head/deputy/head etc.
How you can support your child if they are being bullied
- Listen and help them record details
- Reinforce the importance of telling an adult as soon as possible
at school
- Help them to tell if they need support to do so
- Remember that you do not have the whole story
- Help/encourage them to practice agreed strategies so they can use
them confidently under stress
- Help them to put resolved incidents behind them and move on.
How
you can support your child if they are involved in bully behaviour
- Remember that many children will become involved in bully behaviours
at some time.
- The important thing is to help them to realise why they have done
so, to know that their behaviour is not acceptable, to have alternative
strategies given similar circumstances occurring again, to help them
reconcile and repair relationships
- Listen and help them record details
- Remember that you do not have the whole story
- Support them in taking any action or sanction as a positive learning
experience
- Where a change of behaviour is required, help/encourage them to practice
agreed strategies so they can use them confidently under stress
- Help them to put resolved incidents behind them and move on.
Strategies pupils can use to keep themselves safe (from bullying)
[or
have a separate partner leaflet for pupils and parents on this]
An opportunity to give parents alternatives to the be nasty/hit back
message:
- Don’t be intimidated - maintain eye contact and strong, confident
body posture
- Fogging – remember they are trying to hurt you so don’t
let them. Think of all the really positive and wonderful things that
make you special and unique,
- Say “No!” strongly and firmly.
Or “I don’t
like it when you… Stop it!”
- Tell someone as soon as possible if someone bullies you
- Special support schemes in the school?
Keeping your Child Safe Toolkit
Herts BME Advocacy Service Leaflet new
 The Herts BME Advocacy Service is hosted by
Watford Council for Voluntary Service - an
independent charity.
Supporting parents, carers and children
who have any concern about any aspect of
their education or any situation at a school
to which there may be a racial or religious
element.
They are funded by Hertfordshire County
Council because the service underpins
the commitment to openness and
equality, and because we believe this
service is important to delivering a top
quality education throughout Hertfordshire.
Herts BME Advocacy Service operates independently of Hertfordshire
County Council.
Contact
Watford CVS
149 The Parade
Watford, Herts
WD17 1RH
Tel: 01923 254400
or
Tel:
07500 780692
Email:
hema.devlukia@watfordcvs.net
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