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    • Anti-Bullying: Support for Families

    Every concern about bullying matters to us. This page is for parents and carers – what to look out for, what to do, and how we'll respond if you're worried about your child.

    If You Have Concerns

    If you're worried about bullying involving your child, please speak to your child's class teacher, or contact Emily Shuker (our Designated Safeguarding Lead) through the school office. Please tell us as soon as something doesn't feel right, even if you're not sure it's bullying – you don't need to have it all worked out before you talk to us. We'll look into it with you.

    Understanding Bullying

    It helps if children understand the difference between falling out with friends, other children being unkind, and bullying.

    Bullying is different because it involves:

    • Repeated behaviour – happens over time, not just once or twice
    • Intent to cause harm – deliberate actions meant to hurt or upset
    • Power imbalance – one child has more control or influence than another

    Bullying can happen face to face or online.

    Signs to Watch For

    Look out for changes in your child, such as:

    • Reluctance to go to school or becoming withdrawn
    • Unexplained injuries or damaged belongings
    • Sleep problems, anxiety or mood changes
    • Fear of using phones or the internet

    These signs could point to other issues, but it's always worth considering bullying as a possible cause and talking to us about your concerns.

    Our Approach in School

    At Sefton Park, we talk about bullying regularly – through our PSHE curriculum, including our Say No to Bullying topic, and in assemblies and circle time discussions.

    Each year, we mark Anti-Bullying Week to raise awareness and understanding of what bullying looks like and how we can stop it. We use the Anti-Bullying Alliance materials to deliver assemblies to all year groups and to support children in engaging in meaningful discussions and sessions about bullying.

    How We Handle Bullying at School

    Our Anti-Bullying Policy sets out what happens when bullying is reported:

    • We offer your child an immediate chance to talk to their teacher, our Designated Safeguarding Lead, or another member of staff they trust
    • We support the child being bullied and reassure them it's not their fault
    • We work with children using bullying behaviours to help them understand and change their actions
    • We keep you informed of what we're doing and what happens next

    How You Can Help

    Prevention:

    • Have open and honest conversations with your child about what bullying is and how it makes people feel
    • Explain what they can do if it happens to them, such as telling a trusted adult at home or at school
    • Encourage them to open up to you – these conversations may help your child work out minor friendship conflicts on their own
    • Help them build confidence through friendships and activities

    Every class also has a worry box for children who don't feel able to speak to an adult.

    If bullying happens:

    • Contact us – speak to your child's class teacher or the school office
    • Make a note of what's happened and when
    • Work with us to resolve the situation
    • Reassure your child that telling was the right thing to do

    Additional Resources

    Find our full Anti-Bullying Policy under Safeguarding & Child Protection on our Policies page.

    External Support

    Helplines

    • Family Lives Helpline: 0808 800 2222
    • Kidscape Bullying Advice Line: 0300 102 4481
    • NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000

    Specialist Organisations

    • Kidscape – offers workshops for children needing bullying support, plus guidance for parents and carers
    • Contact – supports families with disabled children and offers bullying-related advice
    • YoungMinds – provides guidance for parents supporting their child's mental health
    • Childnet and Internet Matters – offer resources for online safety

    Still Worried?

    If you don't hear from us, or you don't feel things have changed, please get in touch again – speak to your child's class teacher, or contact the school office at seftonpark@bristol-schools.uk or on 0117 377 3290.

    If you'd rather not speak to the class teacher, you can ask the office for an appointment with the Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher.

    If you feel your concern hasn't been dealt with as it should have been, see our Complaints Policy under Governance & Operations on our Policies page – it sets out what to do next.

    See also: Safeguarding: Keeping Children Safe

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