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Background
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.
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?
Below are some of the kinds of things that could be included
in a parents leaflet.
Herts BME Advocacy Service Leaflet
 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
Free Anti-Bullying Pack for Parents
Parentline Plus is offering a free anti-bullying pack for parents. 
Parentline Plus, part of the Family Lives Group, is offering parents a series of free family friendly leaflets that help address and tackle the problem of bullying.
Titles include: ‘Bullying – Prejudice and Difference’, ‘Bullying – Via Internet and Mobile Phones’ and ‘What can I do if my child is being bullied’.
The information contained within Parentline Plus’s anti- bullying packs are designed to strengthen families, improve family communication, increase parental coping skills and build on parental confidence whilst equipping adults with a clearer understanding of bullying and the reasons for it whilst promoting self-confidence and self-esteem.
Jeremy Todd, Parentline Plus Chief Executive said:
“Bullying is a real concern to families and parents of bullied children often find the situation traumatic and difficult to manage. Now that the school year is a few weeks old, the signs of bullying may be beginning to show. Some families may find it difficult to help a child who is being bullied and we believe our anti-bullying pack will empower and equip parents to find individual solutions to their own particular problem. Concerned parents should contact Parentline Plus or visit our “Be Someone to Tell” website if they need support.”
Parents who wish to receive the free pack can email parentsupport@parentlineplus.org.uk or telephone our 24 hour helpline 0808 800 2222 with your postal address.
Additional bullying tips, including: ‘If your child is being bullied’, is a bully, cyber bullying and bullying’, can all be found on the Parentline Plus website:
With further support available at:
Keeping your Child Safe Toolkit
Parentline Plus – Be Someone to Tell
 'Parentline Plus is a national charity that works for, and with, parents offering help and support through free services including a 24 hour confidential helpline, telephone, email and face to face support, and a wide and range of flexible parenting courses and workshops aimed at giving parents tools to build closer, healthier relationships with their children. Professionals can also access Parentline Plus services to support their own work with parents.
Parentline Plus have launched a new service around bullying called 'Be someone to tell'. Web links are provided below. They offer group and individual support to parents of children who are being bullied or involved in bullying others.
For more information any of their parent support services, please contact the Hertfordshire Parentline Plus office tel: 01707 630101.
Individual emotional support and coaching in a safe, confidential environment is also available.
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