Menston Primary School

Anti-Bullying

At Menston Primary School, we are committed to providing a safe, caring and inclusive environment where every child feels valued, respected and able to learn. We take bullying very seriously and work proactively to prevent it, respond to concerns quickly, and support all children involved.

Our Commitment

• We do not tolerate bullying in any form, including physical, verbal, relational or online bullying.
• All reports of bullying or perceived bullying are taken seriously and followed up promptly.
• We work in partnership with pupils, parents and carers to resolve concerns and ensure children feel safe.
• Our approach is rooted in education, restoration and support, alongside clear expectations for behaviour.

What Is Bullying?

We use the Anti‑Bullying Alliance definition of bullying:

“Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power.”

Bullying can take many forms, including:

• Physical – hitting, pushing, damaging property
• Verbal – name‑calling, teasing, threats
• Relational (social) – spreading rumours, exclusion, manipulating friendships
• Online (cyberbullying) – messages, images or posts intended to hurt or intimidate

Bullying vs Relational Conflict

It is important to recognise the difference between bullying and relational conflict.

• Relational conflict usually involves a one‑off incident or disagreement between children of similar power or status. It may include falling out with friends, saying hurtful things in the heat of the moment or misunderstandings.
• Bullying, by contrast, involves repeated behaviour, is intentional and includes a power imbalance, making it difficult for the child being targeted to defend themselves.

We acknowledge that children may sometimes confuse relational conflict with bullying and that these situations can still be upsetting. For this reason, all reports of perceived bullying are listened to carefully and investigated, even when they do not meet the formal definition of bullying.

What We Do If Concerns Are Raised

When a concern is reported:

• We listen to all parties involved.
• We gather information and investigate promptly.
• We support the child who has been affected.
• We help children resolve conflict in a constructive and restorative way.
• Where bullying is identified, we take clear and proportionate action and continue to monitor the situation.

What Parents and Carers Should Do

If you believe your child has experienced bullying – in person or online – please contact your child’s class teacher as soon as possible. Early communication allows us to work together quickly and effectively.

You do not need to decide whether something is “definitely bullying” before contacting us. If you are worried, we want to know.

Helpful Information for Parents and Carers

The following resources provide further guidance on bullying, relational conflict and online safety:

• NSPCC – recognising and responding to bullying
• Childline – advice for children and young people
• Internet Matters – supporting children with online safety and cyberbullying
• UK Safer Internet Centre – advice for parents/ carers

Working Together

By working together as a school community, we can ensure that concerns are addressed early, children feel supported, and Menston Primary remains a place where everyone feels safe, happy and able to thrive.

Our Anti-Bullying Policy can be found on our policies page here.