Anti-Bullying

Our Anti-Bullying Policy

At Onside Education, we are committed to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment where every young person feels valued and supported. We do not tolerate bullying, harassment or discrimination in any form. Our goal is to ensure that all students can learn, grow and express themselves confidently.

Our Commitment

• We prioritise the safety, welfare and well-being of every student and member of staff.

• We promote kindness, respect, equality and diversity throughout our programmes.

• We actively teach positive behaviours that prepare students for life beyond school.

• Our policy is reviewed and updat

• ed regularly to ensure it remains effective and responsive.

What We Expect From Students

We encourage our learners to:

• Treat others with kindness and respect.

• Think before they speak or act, both in person and online.

• Report any bullying, intimidation or exploitation they experience or witness.

• Use social media responsibly and seek help if cyberbullying occurs.

• Support peers who may be struggling or feeling isolated.

What We Expect From Staff

Our staff team will:

• Take all accusations of bullying seriously and handle them sensitively.

• Ensure students involved understand the impact of their actions.

• Support both the person harmed and the individual responsible to promote positive change.

• Educate students on respect, tolerance and diversity as part of daily practice.

What Counts as Bullying?

Bullying is defined as behaviour that is:

• Deliberately hurtful

• Repeated over time

• Difficult for the person being targeted to defend against

Bullying may be:

• Physical—hitting, kicking, unwanted contact

• Verbal—name-calling, insults, threats, spreading rumours

• Psychological—exclusion, ignoring, manipulation

• Property-related—stealing, damaging or hiding belongings

• Cyberbullying—hurtful messages, posts or images shared online

It may be linked to factors such as race, religion, gender, disability, health, appearance, sexuality, or personal circumstances.

Supporting Students

If a young person is being bullied, we help them to:

• Stay calm and remove themselves from the situation.

• Speak to a trusted adult as soon as possible.

• Describe what happened clearly so we can take effective action.

For parents and carers:

If you believe your child is being bullied, please:

• Talk with them calmly to gather the facts.

• Reassure them that reporting it was the right thing to do.

• Contact our team so we can investigate and support your child.

Our Approach to Prevention

We work hard to prevent bullying by:

• Creating a culture of tolerance, respect and kindness.

• Promoting awareness through discussions and activities.

• Encouraging collaborative work that builds understanding of rights, responsibilities and empathy.

• Offering peer support or befriending to students who need additional help.

How We Respond to Incidents

When bullying occurs, we take clear and consistent action that may include:

• Removal from lessons or groups

• Loss of certain privileges

• Meetings with parents/carers

• Withdrawal from activities or trips

• Temporary suspension in serious cases

Our priority is always to support the person affected while also helping the individual responsible to make positive behavioural changes.

Recording & Reporting

All incidents are logged using our central system, including:

• Date, time and location

• Type of behaviour

• Individuals involved

• Possible motivations (e.g. discrimination)

This helps us monitor patterns, improve our practice and share updates with schools where appropriate.