Bí Cineálta Policy
Bí Cineálta Policy to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour
The Board of Management of Boher NS has adopted the following policy to prevent and address bullying behaviour.
This policy fully complies with the requirements of Bí Cineálta: Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2024.
The board of management acknowledges that bullying behaviour interferes with the rights of the child as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. We all, as a school community, have a responsibility to work together to prevent and address bullying behaviour and to deal with the negative impact of bullying behaviour.
We are committed to ensuring that all students who attend our school are kept safe from harm and that the wellbeing of our students is at the forefront of everything that we do. We recognise the negative impact that bullying behaviour can have on the lives of our students and we are fully committed to preventing and addressing bullying behaviour.
We confirm that we will, in accordance with our obligations under equality legislation, take all such steps that are reasonably practicable to prevent the harassment of students or staff on any of the nine grounds specified: gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community.
Definition of bullying
Bullying is defined in Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying and Bí Cineálta: Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post-Primary Schools as targeted behaviour, online or offline that causes harm. The harm caused can be physical, social and/or emotional in nature. Bullying behaviour is repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power in relationships between two people or groups of people in society. The detailed definition is provided in Chapter 2 of the Bí Cineálta procedures.
Each school is required to develop and implement a Bí Cineálta policy that sets out how the school community prevents and addresses bullying behaviour. Strategies to deal with inappropriate behaviour that is not bullying behaviour are provided for within the school’s Code of Behaviour.
Section A: Development/review of our Bí Cineálta policy to prevent and address bullying behaviour
All members of our school community were provided with the opportunity to input into the development/review of this policy.
| Date consulted | Method of consultation | |
| School Staff | 14/01/2025 25/02/2025 28/02/2025 | Bi Cinealta In-service day Survey Staff meeting |
| Students | 26/02/2025 | Survey + Focus groups |
| Parents | 24/02/2025 03/03/2025 | Survey to all parents/guardians Draft policy sent to parents |
| Board of Management | 18/02/2025 | Board of management discussion |
| Wider school community as appropriate, for example, bus drivers | Consultation as deemed necessary | |
| Date policy was approved: 17/06/2025 | ||
| Date policy was last reviewed: |
Section B: Preventing Bullying Behaviour
| This section sets out the prevention strategies that will be used by the school. These include strategies specifically aimed at preventing online bullying behaviour, homophobic and transphobic bullying behaviour, racist bullying behaviour, sexist bullying behaviour and sexual harassment as appropriate (see Chapter 5 of the Bí Cineálta procedures): |
| Prevention strategies Culture and Environment Create a positive school climate where all students feel safe respected and valuedPromote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of school life Using circle time in the classroom to build a positive culture and environmentEncourage open communication between student’s staff and parents. Encourage pupils to disclose and discuss incidents of bullying behaviorEstablish clear expectations for behavior and enforce them consistentlyPromote respectful relationships across the school communityOpen communicationEffective routine/transitionsAnti-bullying signs and messages will be displayed around the school. Positive messages that promote friendship and caring attitude will also be displayed. Curriculum (teaching and learning) Integrate anti-bullying messages into the school curriculum. Teach students about bullying and its effects SPHE methodologiesProvide opportunities for students to develop social and emotional skillsIncorporate lessons on respect, empathy and diversity into the curriculumAnnual anti-bullying/friendship dayStay Safe will be fully implemented at appropriate times and levels in the schoolBehaviour charts in the classroom (as necessary)Code of Conduct for the classroom and playground drawn up with children in SeptemberBuddy Bench in the playgroundResources such as Weaving Wellbeing, Zippy’s Friends, Fun Friends, Friends for Life, Social Stories etc.Explicit teaching of appropriate communication and emotional literacyGroup work/ CollaborationSensory walks for emotional regulation breaksSensory/Relaxation room Policy & Planning Develop a clear and consistent anti-bullying policy that is enforced by all staff membersReview and update the anti-bullying policy regularly Provide training for staff on how to recognize and respond to bullyingEstablish clear procedures for reporting and responding to bullying incidentsSchool policies – The following policies, practices and activities that are particularly relevant to bullying include: Code of Behaviour, Child Safeguarding Statement, Risk Assessment, Supervision of pupils, Acceptable use policy, Attendance, Communication Policy, SPHE, RSE, PE, SEN/Inclusion Policy Pupil voiceThe school’s approach to tackling and preventing bullying will take particular account of the needs of pupils with disabilities or with SEN, will join up with other relevant school policies and supports and will endeavor to ensure that all services that provide for such pupils work together. Approaches to decreasing the likelihood of bullying for pupils with SEN include improving inclusion, focusing on developing social skills, paying attention to key moments such as transitioning from Primary to Post-Primary and cultivating a good school culture which has respect for all and helping one another as central. Relationships and Partnerships Encourage open communication between students, staff and parentsBuild positive relationships with students and familiesImplementation of education and prevention strategies including awareness raising measures that build empathy, respect and resilience in pupils. Teacher Professional LearningCollaborate with community organisations to provide additional support and resourcesGuest speakers may be invited to address staff and parent groups at regular intervals in relation to various types of bullyingWork with parents and students to educate them about the dangers of cyber-bullying by facilitating outside speakers, example DigiwiseThe programme Webwise will be taught on a regular basis in the school. This programme teaches safe and responsible internet use. Clear protocols are in place to encourage parents/gaurdians to approach the school if they suspect that their child is being bullied. These protocols were developed as part of our Communicaiton Policy Preventing Cyberbullying Behaviour Explicitly teach the issues of cyberbullying and the importance of using technology safelyMonitor student use of technology in the classroom and on school groundsDevelop a Social Media policy for studentsWork with parents and students to educate them about the dangers of cyberbullying by facilitating outside speakers Preventing Homophobic/Transphobic Bullying Behaviour Create a safe and inclusive environment for all students regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity Educate students about the importance of respecting all people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identityEncourage peer support such as peer-mentoring and empathy building activities Preventing Racist Bullying Behaviour Teach students about the history and impact of racism e.g., Show Racism the Red CardPromote diversity and inclusion in the classroomProvide support to students who have been targeted by racist bullyingEnsure that library reading material represents appropriate lived experiences of students and adults from different national, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Preventing Sexist Bullying Behaviour Teach students about the importance of gender equalityCelebrate diversity at school and acknowledge the contributions of all students |
| The school has the following supervision and monitoring policies in place to prevent and address bullying behaviour (see Chapter 5 of the Bí Cineálta procedures): |
| Supervision Staff Supervision: All staff members should be trained to recognise and respond to bullying behaviour. They should be present and visible in common areas and playgroundsStudent Supervision: Class teachers should supervise students during class times and break times. They should be aware of what’s happening in their classrooms and on the playgroundVisitor Supervision: Visitors to the school should be supervised at all times. They should not be left alone with students. Monitoring Incident reporting: The class teacher investigates all instances of reported or suspected bullying behaviour with a view to establishing the facts and records on an Incident Report FormIncident Investigation: All reports of bullying should be investigated promptly and thoroughly. The investigation should include interviews with the student who reported the incident, the student who was allegedly bullied and any witnesses.Follow-up: The school should take appropriate action to address the bullying behaviour. By implementing these policies, Boher NS can create a safer and more positive school environment for all students. |
Section C: Addressing Bullying Behaviour
The teacher(s) with responsibility for addressing bullying behaviour is (are) as follows:
Class Teacher, Principal
| Error! Filename not specified. |
When bullying behaviour occurs, the school will:
- ensure that the student experiencing bullying behaviour is heard and reassured
- seek to ensure the privacy of those involved
- conduct all conversations with sensitivity
- consider the age and ability of those involved
- listen to the views of the student who is experiencing the bullying behaviour as to how best to address the situation
- take action in a timely manner
- inform parents of those involved
| The steps that will be taken by the school to determine if bullying behaviour has occurred, the approaches taken to address the bullying behaviour and to review progress are as follows (see Chapter 6 of the Bí Cineálta procedures): |
| The schools’ procedures for investigation, follow-up and recording of bullying behaviour and the established intervention strategies that may be used by the school for dealing with cases of bullying behaviour are as follows: Class teacher(s) investigates all instances of reported or suspected bullying behaviour with a view to establishing the facts and managing the behaviourIn investigating and dealing with bullying, the class teacher(s) will exercise his/her professional judgement to determine whether bullying has occurred and how best the situation might be resolved. Class teacher(s) should consider the following: what, where and when?Class teacher(s) will be fair and consistent in their approach when addressing bullying behaviour reported by pupils, staff or parentsInterviews will be conducted outside the classroom in a fair and consistent way. If a group has been involved, each member will be interviewed individually at first and, thereafter, as a group when each child will be asked for his/her account of what happened. It may be helpful to ask students involved to write down their account of the incident. The following principles must be adhered to when addressing bullying behaviour: ⬚Ensure that the student experiencing the bullying behaviour feels listened to and reassured ⬚Seek to ensure the privacy of those involved ⬚Conduct all conversations with sensitivity ⬚Consider the age and ability of those involved ⬚Listen to the views of the student who is experiencing the bullying behaviour as to how best to address the situation ⬚Take action in a timely manner ⬚Inform parents of those involved Non-teaching staff such as SNAs, caretakers, cleaners, secretaries are encouraged to report any incidents of bullying behaviour witnessed by them, or mentioned to them, to a Class TeacherSchool staff should know what to do when bullying behaviour is reported to themA school is not expected to deal with bullying behaviour that occurs when students are not under the care or responsibility of the school. However, where this bullying behaviour has an impact in school, schools are required to support the students involved. Where the bullying behaviour continues in school, schools should deal with this in accordance with their Bi Cinealta policy. Both the student who is experiencing bullying behaviour and the student who is displaying bullying behaviour needs supportParents are an integral part of the school community and play an important role, in partnership with schools, in addressing bullying behaviourThe primary aim of the Class Teacher(s) investigating bullying is to resolve issues and to restore relationships. Ongoing supervision and support may be required for both the student who has experienced the bullying behaviour as well as the student who has displayed the bullying behavior. In some cases, relationships may never be restored to how they were beforeThe parents/guardians of the parties involved will be contacted at an early stage to inform them of the matter and explain the actions being taken. The school will give parents/guardians an opportunity to discuss ways in which they can reinforce or support the actions being taken by the school and the support provided to the pupilsIt must also be made clear to all involved (each set of pupils and parents/guardians) that in any situation where disciplinary sanctions are required, this is a private matter (under GDPR) between the pupil being disciplined, his/her parents/guardians and the schoolWhen an investigation is completed and/or a bullying situation is resolved, the teacher(s) will complete a report, to include the findings of the investigation, the strategy adopted and the outcome of the intervention, as well as any other relevant information. Staff will fill out an Incident Report The class teacher(s) must engage with the students and parents involved no more than 20 days after the initial discussion to review progress following the initial intervention. If the bullying behaviour has not ceased the class teacher(s) should review the strategies used in consultation with the students involved and their parents. A timeframe should be agreed for further engagement until the bullying behavior has ceasedIf it becomes clear that the student who is displaying the bullying behaviour is continuing to display the bullying behaviour, then the school consideration should be given to using the strategies to deal with inappropriate behaviour as provided for within the school’s Code of Behaviour. If disciplinary sanctions are considered, this is a matter between the relevant student, their parents and the school. If a parent(s)/guardians is not satisfied with how the bullying behavior has been addressed by the school, in accordance with the BI Cinealta procedures to prevent and address bullying behaviour for primary schools, they should be referred to the School Complaints ProceduresIf a parent is dissatisfied with how a complaint has been handled, they may make a complaint to the Ombudsman for Children. If they believe that the schools actions have had a negative effect on the student. |
| The school will use the following approaches to support those who experience, witness and display bullying behaviour (see Chapter 6 of the Bí Cineálta procedures): |
| The school’s programme of support for working with pupils affected by the bullying behaviour is as follows: Managing the bullying behaviourSupporting the pupils who have experienced bullying behaviour, displayed bullying behaviour and witnessed bullying behaviourPromote a positive school culture where pupils feel safe, respected and valuedRaising awareness of the appropriate programmes and teacher training Helping pupils raise their self-esteem by encouraging them to become involved with activities that help develop friendships and social skills e.g. Participating in group work in class, team activities during or after school, small social groups with SETMaking it clear that adopting the strategies is a positive step towards creating a more respectful and inclusive school environmentIn dealing with challenging behaviour, encouraging teachers and parents to focus on positive reinforcement Circle Time |
All bullying behaviour will be recorded. This will include the type of behaviour, where and when it took place, and the date of the engagement with students and parents. The actions and supports agreed to address bullying behaviour will be documented. If the bullying behaviour is a child protection concern the matter will be addressed without delay in accordance with Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools.
Section D: Oversight
The principal will present an update on bullying behaviour at each board of management meeting. This update will include the number of incidents of bullying behaviour that have been reported since the last meeting, the number of ongoing incidents and the total number of incidents since the beginning of the school year. Where incidents of bullying behaviour have occurred, the principal will also provide a verbal update which will include where relevant, information relating to trends and patterns identified, strategies used to address the bullying behaviour and any wider strategies to prevent and address bullying behaviour where relevant. This update does not contain personal or identifying information. See Chapter 7 of the Bí Cineálta procedures.
This policy is available to our school community on the school’s website and in hard copy on request. A student friendly version of this policy is displayed in the school and is also available on our website and in hard copy on request.
This policy and its implementation will be reviewed, following input from our school community, each calendar year or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which this policy refers.
Bríd McKenna 17/06/2025
Signed: Date: (Chairperson of board of management)
Signed: Carol White______________________ Date: 17/06/2025______ (Principal)
