New guidance focuses on ‘prevention, response and inclusivity’
The Scottish Government has published new guidance to support schools and organisations working with children and young people to develop comprehensive anti-bullying policies and improve behaviour and relationships.
‘Respect for all’ includes updates for staff on how to deal with specific incidents of bullying, including online bullying. The guidance sets out that online bullying should be seen as related to where the bullying occurs, rather than as a different behaviour type – and that online bullying must be responded to with the same level of seriousness as any other form of bullying.
It also highlights the responsibility of schools and organisations to support the wellbeing of children and young people, even when there is not a responsibility to investigate the incident itself.
The definition of bullying on which the guidance is focused has also been strengthened following feedback from children and young people, parents and practitioners. This has a renewed focus on the emotional, social and physical impacts caused by bullying, recognising that not all bullying is an intentional act and that it does not need to be repeated for it to have an impact.
The guidance has been published as Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth visited Cowie Primary School, in Stirling, to learn more about its inclusive approach to tackling bullying during Anti-Bullying Week 2024.
All local authorities, schools and organisations that work with children and young people will now be tasked with developing and implementing anti-bullying policies in line with Respect for All.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Bullying of any kind is never acceptable and can have a lasting impact on a child or young person’s life. It is vital that incidents of bullying, both online and offline, are addressed promptly and robustly.
“The Scottish Government has worked with schools, organisations and local authorities to introduce a range of measures over the last year to improve behaviour and relationships in schools.
“I am pleased to build on this work with the launch of Respect for All, which focuses on prevention, response and inclusivity. It reflects the pressures facing young people, including the increase in social media use, and we expect all stakeholders in Scotland delivering services for children and young people to develop and implement an anti-bullying policy in line with the new guidance.”
Lorraine Glass, Director of respectme, said: “”respectme welcomes the publication of this vital guidance, perfectly timed to coincide with Anti-Bullying Week 2024. We look forward to working with colleagues across Scotland to further embed the policy and practice necessary for the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people.
“This week, over 700 schools from every Scottish local authority area have engaged with our annual campaign on what ‘respect’ means to them. It’s been a phenomenal response and a testament to the commitment and energy of teachers, parents and youth workers to bring safety and happiness to young lives.”
Respect for All has been developed in conjunction with Scotland’s national anti-bullying service, respectme, local authorities, teaching unions, children’s organisations and a parents’ representative.
Anti-Bullying Week is an annual event in the UK that aims to raise awareness about the bullying of children and young people and highlights ways of preventing and responding to the issue. The week is organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and this year’s theme is ‘Choose Respect’.
The theme will encourage children and young people to start a national conversation about how to handle disagreements and differences of opinion without resorting to bullying. It aims to encourage people to support each other to champion kindness – highlighting that being kind is not a sign of weakness but a mark of strength.
Childline Data
Between April 2023 to March 2024 Childline delivered 7,931 counselling sessions where a child’s main concern was bullying
6,999 were about bullying in person
932 were about online bullying.
Quotes from children who contacted Childline about bullying
Quotes are based on real contacts to Childline but are not necessarily direct quotes. All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of the child involved:
A girl aged 13 told Childline:“My bully had been threatening to beat me up for weeks. The girl cornered me today and shoved my head into a wall. She did it so hard that it gave me a nosebleed. I’m scared it’s only going to get worse.”
A boy aged 11 told Childline: “A while ago we were just playing a game online and when I won my friend got really angry and told me to kill myself. Since then, at school that’s all he’ll say to me or something else horrible to bully me. It’s making school really lonely for me.”
A girl aged 18 told Childline:“Someone’s making loads of accounts online to message saying to self-harm. I block and report all of them, but they keep making more accounts. I wish I wasn’t so upset by it, but I was bullied when I was younger and this has brought it all back again.”
A girlaged 12 told Childline:“My friends have set up a group chat to talk about me. One of them sent me screenshots where they’re making fun of how I look and act. I just feel silly being played and don’t get why they want to upset me.”
Shaun Friel, Childline Director said:“Bullying can take on many different forms, and it can happen anywhere including in school, at home or online.
“With almost 8,000 Childline counselling sessions on the issue over the past year, we inevitably hear from young people on a daily basis who want to talk about bullying.
“It’s important that campaigns, such as Anti-Bullying Week exist, so we can continue the conversation of the effects this type of behaviour can have on children. It can make young people feel incredibly lonely, afraid and impact their mental wellbeing.
“Childline is always here for young people to turn to, no matter what the issue. Our trained counsellors will be here 24/7 over the phone and online.”
NSPCC Helpline data
Between April 2023 to March 2024 the NSPCC Helpline handled 805 child welfare contacts where the main concern was bullying
666 concerned bullying in person
139 concerned online bullying
Quotes from adults who contacted the NSPCC Helpline about bullying
Quotes are based on real contacts to the Helpline but are not necessarily direct quotes. All names and potentially identifying details have been changed to protect the identity of the child and adult involved.
A parent told the NSPCC Helpline:“Last month my son’s bullies beat him up badly. They made people film it, so there’s evidence for the school and police, but he’s been terrified to go back. He’s only 12, how can I get him back to school and feeling safe?”
A parent told the NSPCC Helpline: “We’d noticed our daughter had become withdrawn over the last few months and turns out she’s being bullied. School has done some detentions, but these children are calling her racist slurs, is there a way to get the school to address this seriously as racism?”
A parent told the NSPCC Helpline: “My daughter has told me she’s being bullied at school and having panic attacks from it all. My husband thinks we should encourage her to just push through it but I think she needs more support; what can we do?”
Martha Evans, Director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said: “With thousands of young people turning to Childline and the NSPCC Helpline for support on bullying which aligns so much with our own research, it’s clear we must take action.
“This Anti-Bullying Week, let’s come together, lead by example and commit to always choosing respect, creating safer spaces for every child.”
Advice for children
Share how you are feeling with other young people. Childline’s monitored online message boards are a safe non-judgmental space where you can speak to other children who are in a similar situation to you about your experiences and feelings. This can help you feel less alone and will give you an online support network that you can turn to.
Talk to an adult you trust about the bullying you are experiencing so you feel less alone and so that adult can support you. This could be a parent, teacher or you can speak to a Childline counsellor on 0800 1111 or online at childline.org.uk
Take a break from your device if you are being bullied online and do something you enjoy such as sport, listening to music or art.
Remember that bullying is not your fault.
Report and block someone if they are sending you messages online that upset you.
For Adults:
Signs to spot that your child may be being bullied online:
Not wanting to go to school or take part in normal activities.
Getting anxious or angry if you go near their device.
Feeling withdrawn, upset or angry at home.
Problems sleeping or eating.
Having angry outbursts that seem out of character.
Spending more or less time online than normal.
Signs to spot that your child may be being bullied in-person
Belongings are getting lost or damaged.
Physical injuries such as unexplained bruises.
Being afraid to go to school.
Not doing as well at school.
Being nervous, losing confidence, or becoming distressed and withdrawn.
Problems with eating or sleeping.
Bullying others.
What to do if you think your child is being bullied
Talk to your child and remind them to come to you with anything that might be making them feel anxious or sad. If your child speaks to you about an experience of bullying that they’ve had online or in person, try to remain calm and don’t overwhelm them with questions and reassure them that it will be ok, and that you’re always there for them.
Show them how to report or block a message that they’ve received from someone online that upsets or worries them.
Don’t take their device away if they’ve had a negative experience online. Although you may want to do this if they are upset, this may make them feel like whatever has happened is their fault. Instead, suggest they take some time away from the app they received the messages on and do another online activity they enjoy like playing a game.
Know where you can get further support.
Adults can call the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000.
There is also further advice on the NSPCC website.
