Spotting bullying in primary schools is a disheartening, yet very important task. As children learn about their boundaries, and the boundaries of their classmates, incidents happen which often fall into the ‘innocent basket’. However, at times, pupils can take things a little too far even at such early age.

Fortunately, bullying at primary school doesn’t usually have the emotional complexities as teenage bullying, so primary school children are more likely to tell an adult about their experiences, and therefore they can be dealt with quickly and effectively.

However, some children don’t tell their parents or teachers, because they feel scared or intimidated, which means it’s important to be able to recognise the signs. These could include physical injuries, sudden complaint of illness, moodiness, lack of interest, aggressive behaviour or loss of appetite.

A strong indicator that something is wrong is a general change in behaviour. Has a normally outgoing child become more withdrawn? Has a studious child started to underperform? It’s worth having a discussion with that child to try to uncover the cause.

It is important to keep an eye on ‘repeat offenders’ and to attempt to find the roots of any causes of upset. Pupils can be fearful of reporting the true cause in fear of the views of their classmates. Be aware of unprovoked and uncalled-for physical interactions, as well as incidents of verbal mocking and name-calling.

Bullying is statistically more likely to affect ethnic minorities, children with disabilities, and children identifying as LGBTQ. Whilst the latter is arguably less prevalent in primary schools, awareness and understanding at this early age is beneficial. According to the Anti-Bullying Alliance “primary school pupils with special needs are twice as likely as other children to suffer persistent bullying.”

Primary school teachers can have a huge impact in preparing children for their future, and bullying is a key theme to help them grow into mature, compassionate and understanding young adults. This is compounded when one considers that, according to the Anti-Bullying Alliance, “children bullied during their early years are up to three times more likely to self harm than their classmates when they reach adolescence.”

Why a pupil bullies another child, or a teacher, is not a simple question to answer. One of the likely answers is that the ‘bully’ has been exposed to bullying themselves, potentially from a sibling, or other family member. Children who are subjected to neglect or abuse at home are also more likely to express their frustrations, anger, and sadness via dominant behaviour.

Children will often comment or make fun of what they don’t understand, as a way of displacing their feelings of confusion or discomfort. This leads to teasing others that are different in appearance or ability. It’s not unusual for primary school children to isolate classmates that are overweight, disabled, highly intelligent or have a learning difficulty. In these cases, bullying can be prevented simply by better education.

Here is our brief summary of steps you can take in your school:

• Be open about bullying – education is essential
• Make bullying a theme, not solely a lesson – incorporate bullying as a theme throughout subjects
• Create an anti-bullying ethos – throughout the whole year
• Review discipline procedures and focus on consequences
• Resolve each instance of bullying and support the bully as well as the victim

For more information see our post on How To Prevent Bullying 

As the proliferation and spread of internet-connected devices reaches children at a younger age with every passing year, cyberbullying and internet security have become more pressing issues. Online bullying is usually borne of children carrying their own ‘private’ device on which they can access what they like and communicate however they like. Whilst, it is argued, primary school pupils should not have their own device for personal use, there are still ways in which younger children are able to communicate freely.

An awareness of the affects of bullying on other pupils is paramount to ward off any inclination to use ‘anonymous’ online communications to bully others. Further, it is important that teachers and schools safeguard children from bullies within school as well as ‘outside’ threats.

Whilst Facebook does not allow children younger than 13 to join the platform , it is relevant and encouraging that “Facebook committed to an anti-bullying strategy” this year, as reported by CNET. The strategy involves offering “every secondary school in the UK a dedicated digital safety ambassador.”

For more information, read our Guide to Cyberbullying

Between November 11th and 15th, we are all invited to help increase awareness of bullying.  Anti-Bullying Week shines a spotlight on bullying and encourages all children, teachers and parents to take action against bullying throughout the year. The theme this year is ‘Change Starts With Us’.

This years aims are as follows:

Small change. Big difference.

Whether it is verbal, physical, online or in-person, bullying has a significant impact on a child’s life well in to adulthood. By making small, simple changes, we can break this cycle and create a safe environment for everyone. Because together, we can challenge bullying. Change starts with a conversation. It starts with checking in. It starts with work together.

Change starts here.
Change starts now.
Change starts with us.

More information can be found here.

Let us know how you and your school get involved with this important week. Be sure to encourage awareness beyond this week and keep bullying prevention at the forefront of your school’s modus operandi.