Executive Response - Follow-up Review of Bullying in Schools

Home -> Council and democracy -> Councillors, democracy and elections -> Elected members - minutes, agendas and reports

Post Scrutiny - Executive Response

In Respect of: Follow-up Review of Bullying in Schools

Date: August 2009

Cabinet Deputy: Lifelong Learning

Recommendations	Accepted / Rejected	Executive Response	Officer Responsible	Action By (Date)
1. That the Anti-bullying Steering Group coordinate the completion of an annual gathering of localised bullying data i.e. from schools, youth service and social care through established networks and the implementation of recording pro formas.	Rejected	We will set systems to encourage youth groups and schools to work towards establishing clear robust systems of monitoring evaluating and responding to bullying incidents and we will collect data of overall systems in place in schools and youth groups rather than individual incidents.	Theresa Coughlan Jose Johnston	03/10
2. That resources be available from a number of sources such as ABA, Childline etc, to be coordinated through the Anti-bullying Steering Group to enable schools to embed anti-bullying practices as part of the whole school ethos.	Accepted	The Steering Group will promote resources via newsletters, web based information, training sessions and networks such as lead behaviour specialists and healthy schools	Theresa Coughlan Helen Mellor Shelagh Walton Helen Hobday	03/10
3. That the Anti-bullying Steering Group should ensure that as part of any stakeholder consultations, whether borough-wide or on an individual school basis, that school governors are included.	Accepted	This principle will be promoted in all training	Jim Higgins / Theresa Coughlan	07/10
4. That the Council’s Anti-bullying Policy should advise the appointment of an anti-bullying link governor as good practice.	Accepted	This will be reflected in the revised Anti Bullying Guidance for schools	Jim Higgins / Theresa Coughlan	09/10
5. That all governors continue to be offered anti-bullying awareness training, and have access to/awareness of the specific governor summary of the Tameside Anti-bulling Policy.	Accepted	Anti Bullying training linked with positive behaviour management is included in the governor programme annually.	Jim Higgins / Theresa Coughlan	07/09
6. That on a local level, the Anti-bullying Steering Group should be the point of contact for schools across Tameside to use to enable them to gain information and advice.	Accepted	A wide range of materials will be used to enable schools to know the contacts and materials available including: - Newsletters Web based information Networks and conferences	Theresa Coughlan Helen Mellor Shelagh Walton Helen Hobday	07/09
7. That Tameside should continue to support the work of the Anti-bullying Alliance through representatives on the ABA Youth Network and attending North West Regional ABA meetings to share good practice and keep up to date with information.	Accepted	Attendance of at least one Tameside representative at NW regional networks will continue to be maintained. It is anticipated that Tameside’s anti bullying youth forum will link with the ABA NW Youth Forum	Theresa Coughlan Helen Hobday Helen Mellor	07/09
8. That the Council’s Anti-bullying Policy be wider communicated to schools across the borough as guidelines for their own policies.	Accepted	The policy will be available on the Web and it is anticipated updated Guidance will also be made available.	Theresa Coughlan	09/10
9. That all schools be encouraged to include the anti-bullying policy and/or guidelines as part of their school prospectus.	Accepted	This will be promoted in networks and on the web.	Theresa Coughlan Helen Hobday Helen Mellor Shelagh Walton	09/10
10. That it should be recommended that each school has an accessible version of their anti-bullying policy in a child friendly version in a number of formats.	Accepted	This will be promoted in networks and on the web.	Theresa Coughlan Helen Mellor	09/10
11. Advice and support is given to schools to enable them to fully include all stakeholder groups in the development of their anti-bullying policies.	Accepted	This will be promoted in networks and on the web.	Theresa Coughlan Helen Mellor Shelagh Walton	09/10
12. That the report card be used as an accurate monitoring tool for bullying incidents, and monitored through the Anti-bullying Steering Group and Children and Young People Strategic Partnership.	Accepted	That the report card be used as a progress measure of the percentage of schools with reporting systems linked to the LA to monitor anti-bullying: incorporating trend data from youth surveys	Nick Caws Theresa Coughlan	09/10
13. That once launched, the Anti-bullying Steering Group should circulate the recently created bullying recording pro forma to all schools, and work with them on establishing mechanisms for their completion.	Accepted	The pro forma is guidance for schools on the kinds of issues that may need to be considered in monitoring incidents of bullying. Schools progress on this will be audited and recorded by: Regular newsletters Web based information Networks such as lead behaviour specialists and Healthy Schools	Theresa Coughlan Helen Mellor Helen Hobday Shelagh Walton	09/10
14. That the results of the SHARP pilot be evaluated and further consultation be undertaken with all schools to determine the most effective system to extend across the borough.	Accepted	The SHARP pilot will be audited, the outcomes shared with schools as well as comparable systems to enhance pupil voices and monitoring and record incidents.	Theresa Coughlan Helen Mellor	04/10
15. That in line with government guidance, the type of bullying to be included on the pro forma to enable further analysing of information.	Accepted	Schools will be encouraged to comply with government guidance to ensure that incidents are recorded by type	Theresa Coughlan	09/10
16. That the Anti-bullying Steering Group is recommended to establish a web network and forum for anti-bullying, as a vehicle for communicating and sharing good practice and latest developments in anti-bullying work.	Accepted	The web site has been established information will be added updated at least termly. The web link is: - www.teachingandlearningtameside.net > Initiatives > anti-bullying / peer support	Theresa Coughlan Adrienne Carroll	12/09
17. That a website containing all relevant information be developed.	Accepted	See 16	Theresa Coughlan	09/10
18. That the bullying newsletter be continually published and circulated to all schools and organisations via email and network meetings on a regular basis.	Accepted	That the bullying newsletter will continue to be published on a regular basis and circulated to all schools and organisations via email and network meetings on a regular basis.	Theresa Coughlan	09/10
19. That the Anti-bullying Steering Group prioritise reviewing support for parents re bullying (especially relating to cyber-bullying and online safety).	Accepted	The anti-bullying steering group will review as a priority the support provided to parents making complaints about bullying incidents in line with Government guidance.	Theresa Coughlan	09/10
20. That cyber bullying continues to be regarded as a serious problem, and that good practice strategies to combat it should be shared through the Anti-bullying Steering Group.	Accepted	Awareness and preventative strategies in relation to cyber bullying will be promoted via: - Web page Newsletters Networks Training co-ordinated by the LSCB	Theresa Coughlan Lynn Jackson Adrienne Carroll	09/10
21. That bullying that takes place on the journey to and from school be regarded in the same way as any other bullying and treated accordingly.	Rejected	In line with the Steer Report we will ensure that schools are aware of their legal powers and duties to monitor bullying incidents on journeys to and from school as well as on the school site in the following ways: Web page Newsletters Networks Data auditing	Theresa Coughlan Helen Mellor Helen Hobday	09/10
22. That Council guidance to schools should include recommendations for the inclusion of specific reference to more recently identified bullying types such as cyber bullying.	Accepted		Theresa Coughlan	09/10
23. That the scrutiny panel invite members of the e-safety group to a later scrutiny meeting to discuss the issue further, and determine the need for an additional scrutiny review.	Accepted		AED responsible for E Safety
24. That each school is advised to translate their individual anti-bullying policies into a parents’ version, to enable them to be aware of their responsibilities in order to pro-actively support the school’s policy. This should be available on the school’s website in order to ensure high visibility and easy access.	Accepted		T Coughlan
25. That the council’s anti-bullying policy and guidance to schools should include a recommendation that where possible parents should be invited to engage with their anti-bullying projects.	Accepted		Nick Caws T Coughlan
26. That a voluntary sector representative be included in the anti-bullying network to give other voluntary groups easier access to the latest advice, information and resources regarding the issue of bullying.	Accepted	A representative from the voluntary sector has joined the steering group.	T Coughlan	09/10

Page last updated: 21 February 2011