Bí Cineálta Policy to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour

The Board of Management of Caherconlish NS has adopted the following policy to prevent and address bullying behaviour.

This policy fully complies with the requirements of Bí Cineálta: Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2024.

The board of management acknowledges that bullying behaviour interferes with the rights of the child as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. We all, as a school community, have a responsibility to work together to prevent and address bullying behaviour and to deal with the negative impact of bullying behaviour.

We are committed to ensuring that all students who attend our school are kept safe from harm and that the wellbeing of our students is at the forefront of everything that we do. We recognise the negative impact that bullying behaviour can have on the lives of our students and we are fully committed to preventing and addressing bullying behaviour.

We confirm that we will, in accordance with our obligations under equality legislation, take all such steps that are reasonably practicable to prevent the harassment of students or staff on any of the nine grounds specified: gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community.

“We confirm that we will take all steps that are reasonably practicable to prevent all bullying or harassment of our students in whatever form and however motivated.

Catholic schools have a distinctive understanding of the human person, recognising that every person is created in God’s image and likeness and has inherent dignity as a child of God. This is the basis for ensuring that everybody in our school is treated with respect and care, in accordance with the Catholic Schedule.

As a Catholic school, we are committed to respecting the dignity of every individual. No human person is to be devalued and everybody has a part to play in the school community, regardless of difference.”

Definition of bullying

Bullying is defined in Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying and Bí Cineálta: Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post-Primary Schools as targeted behaviour, online or offline that causes harm. The harm caused can be physical, social and/or emotional in nature. Bullying behaviour is repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power in relationships between two people or groups of people in society. The detailed definition is provided in Chapter 2 of the Bí Cineálta procedures.

Each school is required to develop and implement a Bí Cineálta policy that sets out how the school community prevents and addresses bullying behaviour. Strategies to deal with inappropriate behaviour that is not bullying behaviour are provided for within the school’s Code of Behaviour.

Section A: Development/review of our Bí Cineálta policy to prevent and address bullying behaviour

All members of our school community were provided with the opportunity to input into the development/review of this policy.

 Date consultedMethod of consultation
School Staff19th February 2025During Half Day Closure all staff completed a questionnaire
Students28th February 20251. Written Survey 2. Student Council developed Student Policy
Parents28th February 2025  Google Forms Survey
Board of Management17th February 2025Policy was discussed
Wider school community as appropriate, for example, bus drivers24th February 2025Discussion with parents association and school caretaker/cleaner
  Date policy was approved: 9th June 2025
  Date policy was last reviewed:

Section B: Preventing Bullying Behaviour

This section sets out the prevention strategies that will be used by this school to address all forms of bullying behaviour, in whatever form and however motivated, including online bullying behaviour, homophobic and transphobic bullying behaviour, racist bullying behaviour, sexist bullying behaviour and sexual harassment.

“In developing the preventative strategies which this school will use to prevent all forms of bullying behaviour, we come from the context of our Catholic ethos, where inclusivity permeates our school in a real way.”

“This school takes positive steps to ensure that the culture of the school is one which welcomes a respectful dialogue and encounter with diversity and difference by ensuring that prevention and inclusivity strategies are given priority and discussed regularly at our board of management and staff meetings.”

“The dignity and the wellbeing of the individual person is of paramount concern in our Christian response. This school will listen closely to and dialogue with parents, thereby building a relationship of mutual understanding, respect, trust and confidence.”

“In continuing to develop prevention strategies, this school will listen to young people and parents, to help establish their particular context and needs. Frequent periods of reflection and further engagement by the school, young people and parents, will be used to discern appropriate supports for young people in this school and to help inform future prevention strategies”.

 

This section sets out the prevention strategies that will be used by the school. These include strategies specifically aimed at preventing online bullying behaviour, homophobic and transphobic bullying behaviour, racist bullying behaviour, sexist bullying behaviour and sexual harassment as appropriate (see Chapter 5 of the Bí Cineálta procedures):
1. Providing a “telling environment” – promoting and encouraging speaking to trusted adult. Pupils will be reminded at assemblies and during curricular provision such as “Stay Safe” etc. 2. Provision of a safe physical space i.e. the school yard – preventing “black spots” which can facilitate bullying behavior. Ensure adequate supervision at all times. 3. Teaching all of the required programmes – RSE, Stay Safe, Wellbeing & Grow in Love. 4. Other policies and programmes can assist with the prevention of bullying behavior. These include Supervision Policy, SEN Policy, Code of Behaviour, AUP. 5. Preventing Cyber Bullying – Webwise, Safer Internet Day and utilising support from the local community i.e. local guard visits the school. 6. Encouraging students to speak up when witnessing homophobic behavior. “One Love, One Family” poster competition. 7. Provision of EAL Hours – Display Board – Promoting inclusion: celebrating different cultures. Plan to do a culture Day. 8. Staff modelling gender-based equality.                            
The school has the following supervision and monitoring policies in place to prevent and address bullying behaviour (see Chapter 5 of the Bí Cineálta procedures):
  1. Staff member/SNAs on yard supervision at all times 2. Morning and evening supervision. Ten minutes before and after school. 3. Staff members liaise with each other should a bullying incident take place regarding a pupil in their class. 4. School Excursion Policy – Recommended Pupil/teacher ratio 5. Pupils are aware of areas in the yard that are out of bounds or have black spots.    

Section C: Addressing Bullying Behaviour

The teacher(s) with responsibility for addressing bullying behaviour is (are) as follows:

When bullying behaviour occurs, the school will:

  • ensure that the student experiencing bullying behaviour is heard and reassured
  • seek to ensure the privacy of those involved
  • conduct all conversations with sensitivity
  • consider the age and ability of those involved
  • listen to the views of the student who is experiencing the bullying behaviour as to how best to address the situation
  • take action in a timely manner
  • inform parents of those involved
The steps that will be taken by the school to determine if bullying behaviour has occurred, the approaches taken to address the bullying behaviour and to review progress are as follows (see Chapter 6 of the Bí Cineálta procedures):
  1. Identify the bullying behaviour and triggers, if any. 2. Keep a record of the bullying behaviour. 3. Provide a safe space for the child being bullied. 4. Act in a timely manner and conduct all interactions in a sensitive manner. 5. Inform the parents of those involved regardless of further sanctions. 6. Observe, monitor and frequently communicate with bullied child 7. If parents want no action to be taken, they must do so in writing. 8. Record any engagements with external supports. 9. Determine if bullying behaviour has ceased by reviewing the situation before 20 days have elapsed.      
The school will use the following approaches to support those who experience, witness and display bullying behaviour (see Chapter 6 of the Bí Cineálta procedures):
  1. Listen to the child 2. Reassure the child 3. Listen to their views. 4. Act in a timely manner 5. Review the progress of the initial intervention    

Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post­Primary Schools

All bullying behaviour will be recorded. This will include the type of behaviour, where and when it took place, and the date of the engagement with students and parents. The actions and supports agreed to address bullying behaviour will be documented. If the bullying behaviour is a child protection concern the matter will be addressed without delay in accordance with Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools.

Section D: Oversight

The principal will present an update on bullying behaviour at each board of management meeting. This update will include the number of incidents of bullying behaviour that have been reported since the last meeting, the number of ongoing incidents and the total number of incidents since the beginning of the school year. Where incidents of bullying behaviour have occurred, the principal will also provide a verbal update which will include where relevant, information relating to trends and patterns identified, strategies used to address the bullying behaviour and any wider strategies to prevent and address bullying behaviour where relevant. This update does not contain personal or identifying information. See Chapter 7 of the Bí Cineálta procedures.

This policy is available to our school community on the school’s website and in hard copy on request. A student friendly version of this policy is displayed in the school and is also available on our website and in hard copy on request.

This policy and its implementation will be reviewed, following input from our school community, each calendar year or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which this policy refers.

Signed:                                                                                    Date:                                        (Chairperson of board of management)

Signed:                                                                                    Date:                                        (Principal)