Positive Behaviour and Anti-Bullying

Like you, we want the best possible future for your child. We know that children do better at school and go on to achieve more in life when families and schools work together. We want to make sure that you, as parents and carers, feel involved in your child's learning, feel welcome and listened to in our schools. We have a shared interest in your child being happy, confident, and successful in school. A part of this is to encourage positive behaviour in our schools and communities. Parents as positive role models is key.

Positive Behaviour

Scottish based research shows that schools who have positive relationships throughout the school community and include the voice of children and young people meaningfully in decisions have higher achievement.

It is essential that adults model behaviour which promotes positive relationships and positive behaviours. Therefore, we encourage adults to be positive and supportive creating spaces where children and young people feel safe, secure, listened to, and secure in their ability to discuss sensitive issues.

All schools should have an anti-bullying policy. This policy must reflect the Dumfries and Galloway guidance, and Respect for All: The National Approach to Anti-Bullying for Scotland's Children and Young People.

Schools will have different ways of putting the principles of anti-bullying into practice to reflect their local school community. They should have an approach which makes it clear that bullying behaviour will be addressed in line with Scottish Government approaches. The entire school community: teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils, and parents, should be involved and must be committed to this. The policy should be reviewed on a regular basis identified by the school (Improvement Plan) and provide a basis for all the strategies, procedures and practices related to anti-bullying practice - this will show how children and young people are supported in school.

Parent Councils and positive behaviour

Your Parent Council plays a key role in representing the views of all parents in the school. When the school is looking at policies and plans like positive behaviour and anti-bullying you can share your views and support this work through your Parent Council. Your school office will be able to tell you who to contact if you do not know.

The Directorate of Education and Learning Respect for All Guidelines (2018) for schools incorporates revised national anti-bullying guidelines (Scottish Government 2017) that underpins our Schools Policy. We also acknowledge The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

• Children's rights are now embedded in Scottish legislation with the promotion and upholding of the rights of children and young people and states that all education should develop each child's personality and talents to the full.

Children's voices should be heard, and their wishes respected without discrimination of any kind. AND

The Equality Act 2010 that places a duty on schools to:

• Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and any other conduct prohibited by the Act.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it.
• Foster good relations between people who share a characteristic and people who do not share it.

The Equality Act 2010 put legislation in place to prevent direct or indirect discrimination against persons due to their:

• Age
• Disability
• Sex (Gender)
• Gender reassignment (Transgender)
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sexual orientation

Respect Me

Parents can access free resources and information from Respectme at the following link: Respect Me | About Us | Our work towards an equal and inclusive Scotlandrespectme

Their vision is of a respecting, just, equal and inclusive Scotland in which all children and young people can live free from bullying and harassment and are encouraged to reach their full potential. Our work is driven by a focus on children's rights.

They have produced a number of publications, with information and advice tailored to meet the needs of adults and of children and young people respectme Publicationsrespectme

Further information

• Call: 030 33 33 3000
• Email: EducationandLearningParentalInvolvement@dumgal.gov.uk