Anti-Bullying Policy

Rocketeers provides a supportive, caring and safe environment in which all children are free from the fear of being bullied. Bullying of any form is not tolerated in our club, whether carried out by a child or an adult.

Staff, children and parents or carers will be made aware of the Club’s position on bullying. Bullying behaviour is unacceptable in any form.

Any child who is a victim of bullying will be dealt with in a sympathetic manner. If bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be dealt with immediately by the member of staff informed, and then discussed with the manager. An account of the incident will be recorded in an Incident log. All staff will be informed so that close monitoring of the victim and bully can begin. Parents of both parties will be informed.

Rocketeers defines bullying as the repeated harassment of others through emotional, physical, psychological or verbal abuse.

• Physical: Pushing, scratching, spitting, kicking, hitting, biting, taking or damaging belongings, tripping up, punching or using any sort of violence against another person.
  
• Psychological: Behaviour likely to create a sense of fear or anxiety in another person.
• Emotional: Being deliberately unkind, shunning or excluding another person from a group or tormenting them. For example, making another person feel ‘left out’ of a game or activity, passing notes about others or making fun of another person.
• Verbal: Name-calling, put-downs, ridiculing or using words to attack, threaten or insult. For example, spreading rumours or making fun of another person’s appearance.
  
  

Racial harassment can take any of the forms of bullying listed above but is motivated by the victim’s colour, race, nationality, or ethnic or national origins. Incidents of racial harassment will be recorded as such on the Incident log. (See our Equalities Policy for more information on how we deal with and challenge discriminatory behaviour.)

Preventing bullying behaviour

Staff at Rocketeers will foster an anti-bullying culture in the following ways:

• Encouraging caring and nurturing behaviour
• Discussing friendships and encouraging group and team play
• Encouraging children to report bullying without fear
• Discussing the issues surrounding bullying with the children, including why bullying behaviour will not be tolerated
• Exploring the consequences of bullying behaviour with the children.

Responding to bullying behaviour

Rocketeers acknowledges that despite all efforts to prevent it, bullying behaviour is likely to occur on occasion. Should such incidents occur, the Club will follow the procedure outlined below:

• We will address all incidents of bullying thoroughly and sensitively.
• Victims of bullying will be offered the immediate opportunity to discuss the matter with a member of staff who will reassure the child and offer support.
• They will be reassured that what they say will be taken seriously and handled sympathetically.
• Staff will support the individual who has been bullied, keeping them under close supervision, and checking their welfare regularly.
• If another child witnesses bullying and reports this, staff will reassure them that they have done the right thing. Staff will then investigate the matter.
• If a member of staff witnesses an act of bullying, involving children or adults at the club, they will inform the supervisor.
• Children who have bullied will be helped by discussing what has happened, establishing why the child became involved. Staff will help the child to understand why this form of behaviour is unacceptable and will encourage him/her to change their behaviour
• If the bullying persists, the parents will be informed and we will work with them to try to resolve the issues.
• If this fails to stop the bullying, more serious actions may have to be taken, as laid out in the Suspensions and Exclusions policy.
• All incidents of bullying will be reported to the manager and will be recorded on an Incident Log. The manager and other relevant staff will review the Club’s procedures in respect of bullying, to ensure that practices are relevant and effective.

Policy Adopted: 01/09/2022

Policy Review: 01/09/2024

By: Tanya Parker, Rocketeers Childcare

Written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2017): Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Complaints [3.74-3.75].

Contact Us

enquiries@rocketeerschildcare.co.uk