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parent, approaches you to raise a bullying concern? I would suggest that the fact they have come to you is a good sign; they’ve had the confidence to reach out, and they almost certainly believe that you can, and will, resolve the situation. The most important first step is always to listen carefully. It is essential that, as well as capturing all relevant information, you ensure that pupils feel heard. The priority should be allowing the affected child to speak freely, so it’s important to ask questions to clarify points. Your next steps will very much depend on what answers you get. Every school will, or certainly should, have their own processes for recording bullying incidents, or allegations. Such processes, including whom to notify in your school, should be followed carefully. If the disclosure has come directly from a child, then one of the next steps will be to let their parents know. Sometimes there can be a concern on the part of the child or their parent that if the alleged bullies are approached it will only make matters worse. In my experience, this is rarely the case. Nevertheless, I always try and work on the principle of ‘informed consent’. In other words, laying out the different potential courses of action, the likelihood of a successful outcome, and any other likely ‘consequences’, so there can be an informed discussion about the best way forward. Generally, the focus should be on restorative approaches and education rather than punishment. Follow-up is key In order to ensure the best possible outcomes for all parties, it’s crucial to follow up on any bullying incident or allegation. Some check-ins a week, and then a month, after the original concern can help to confirm that there has not been any reoccurrence. Check-ins with parents or carers can also help to reassure them that you have not forgotten about the issue and that it is still on your radar. As teachers, bullying, and allegations of bullying, can be one of the most challenging issues we deal with. If you ensure that the curricular building blocks are in place, take time to listen, focus on potential solutions, record carefully and follow-up diligently, it is possible to secure positive outcomes for all concerned. TP F EATURE S PA S TORA L www.teachwire.net | 27 Alan Shields is a local authority inclusion officer and former primary head with almost 30 years’ experience in the state and independent sectors. 1.54 million children aged 10–15 in England (approx. 34.9 per cent) experienced in-person bullying in the past year ( via Office for National Statistics ). 847,000 children (approx. 19.1 per cent) aged 10–15 experienced online bullying. Cyberbullying is on the rise, especially among 11-year-old girls, with 30 per cent reporting being bullied online ( via University of Kent HBSC Study ). Useful resources • anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk • respectme.org.uk KEY I NFO