Enquire Seminar

16 March 2011

Bullying Behaviour and Additional Support Needs

Brian Donnelly

Director, respectme

Lorraine Glass

Policy Development Programme Manager

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Bullying…It’s Never Acceptable

Workshop Objectives

• Can bullying behaviour create additional support needs?

• What can be done to address bullying behaviour associated with additional support needs?

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Bullying Behaviour Can Be…

• Being called names, teased, put down or threatened• Being hit, tripped, pushed or kicked• Having belongings taken or damaged• Being ignored, left out or having rumours spread

about you• Receiving abusive text messages or emails• Behaviour which makes you feel like you are being

bullied• Being targeted because of who you are or who you

are perceived to be

What is Bullying Behaviour?

• Is intent required?

• Does the behaviour have to be persistent?

• What about impact?

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Why Do People Bully?

• They are in a culture which supports and accepts bullying behaviour

• They feel that they will never get caught or won’t be held accountable if they are

• To gain control and power over a situation• They may have experienced this behaviour in other

environments and are modelling what they have seen• They may have been bullied themselves and are

bullying to prevent them being the next target• Not aware of effects or impacts of bullying behaviour• Don’t perceive their behaviour as bullying

Prejudice-Based Bullying

• Asylum seekers and refugees

• Body Image

• Disabilist

• Homophobic

• Looked After Children

• Racial

• Religion and belief

• Sectarianism

• Sexism and gender

• Young carers

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What about the child who is bullying?

• Deal with the behaviour in the same way as you would with any type of challenging behaviour

• Listen and take time to discover the reasons for the bullying

• Do not label the individual or group as ‘bullies’, name the behaviour

• Be prepared for a strong reaction from parents and carers and children and young people

• Be prepared to address prejudicial attitudes that may be behind the bullying behaviour

• Address what’s happening behind the behaviour, even when the bullying has stopped

Personal Plan

What will you do now?

Conclusion

Bullying is never acceptable. It is not a normal part of growing up.

It does not build character – trust, acceptance, consistency and safety build character.

We must all be good role models in the truest sense and remember – we can make a difference!

Conclusion

Bullying is never acceptable. It is not a normal part of growing up.

It does not build character – trust, acceptance, consistency and safety build character.

We must all be good role models in the truest sense and remember – we can make a difference!

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Contact respectme

Telephone: 0844 800 8600

Email: enquire@respectme.org.uk

Website: www.respectme.org.uk