BÍ CINNEALTA

The Board of Management of Killasser 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

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 and can have

lasting effects on the the child experiencing the behaviour.

Bullying behaviour is repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power in

relationships between two people or groups of people in society.

It is behaviour which is deliberate in nature and is unwanted. It is not accidental or

reckless behaviour .

The harm can be :

o Physical ( eg: personal injury, damage to or loss of property)

o Social: ( eg: withdrawal, loneliness, exclusion)

o Emotional: (eg: low self esteem, depression, anxiety)

A one-off instance of negative behaviour towards a student is not bullying behaviour.

However, a single hurtful message posted on social media can be considered

bullying behaviour as it may be visible to a wide audience and has a high likelihood

of being shared multiple times and so becomes a repeated behaviour.

Behaviour that is not bullying behaviour

 If the repeated harm is real for the student experiencing the behaviour, but

unintended by the other student, this is not bullying, but , importantly, must be

addressed under the school ‘s code of behaviour.

 Disagreement between students is not considered bullying unless it involves

deliberate and repeated attempts to cause distress, exclude or create dislike

by others.

Types of Bullying

There are many different types of bullying behaviour. These can include directing

bullying at someone focused on the following: disability, exceptional ability, gender

identity, LGBTQ+ , physical appearance, racism, poverty status, religious identity,

sexism and sexual harassment. This is not an exhaustive list.

Bullying can be : Direct

• Physical: pushing, shoving, punching, kicking, poking and tripping students.

Physical assault.

Destruction of personal property.

• Verbal: continual name calling which insults, humiliates the student – this may refer

to physical

appearance, sex, clothes, gender, accent, academic ability, race or ethnic origin.

• Written: Writing insulting remarks in public places, passing notes or drawings about

the

student.

• Extortion: where something is obtained through force or threats

Bullying can be : Indirect

 Exclusion: where a student is deliberately and repeatedly isolated, excluded

or ignored by a student or group of students.

 Relational: Where a student’s attempts to form friendships with peers are

repeatedly rejected undermined, threats, non-verbal gesturing, malicious

gossip, spreading rumours, silent treatment and manipulation of friend groups

etc can all form relational bullying for a student.

Online bullying behaviour

Cyber bullying is carried out via text, direct messaging/instant messaging, social

media platforms, email, apps, digital gaming sites, gaming consoles, chatrooms and

other online technologies.

This can include:

• Sending or sharing of insulting and offensive or intimidating messages or images

via online

means as mentioned above.

• Posting information which is personal, private or sensitive without consent.

• Making and/or participating in fake profiles on a social network to impersonate

and/or humiliate

other students.

• Exclude/disrupt access to a student on purpose on online chat groups/access to

accounts/from

an online game.

Schools are not expected to deal with bullying behaviour that occurs when the

students are not under the care or responsibility of the school. However, where this

bullying behaviour has an impact in school, schools are required to support the

students involved. Where the bullying behaviour continues in school , schools should

deal with it in accordance with their Bí Cineálta policy.

Is it bullying ?

We should use these three questions to decided if the behaviour is bullying or not?

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 consulted Method of consultation

School staff December 2024 Stage 1: Staff Meeting –

staff provided with the

opportunity to discuss the

new Bi

Cinealta action plan.

Attention drawn to how to

deal with bullying, bullying

incident form and staff

room noticeboard with

information on Bi Cineálta

1. Targeted

Is the behaviour target at a specific

pupil or group of pupils?

Is it

bullying ? 2. Harm

Is the behaviour intended to cause

physical, social or emotional harm?

3. Repeated

Is the behaviour repeated ?

March 2025 procedures.

Feedback welcomed.

Decided to meet again in

Term 2.

Stage 2 : Sharing of draft

policy with staff to discuss

/

consult and make any

amendments.

Students

March 2025

April 2025

Pupils were given a

questionnaire in class

seeking their feedback on

creating a child-friendly Bí

Cineálta Policy based on

that found in Appendix B

of the Bí Cineálta:

Procedures to Prevent and

Address Bullying

Behaviour for Primary and

Post-Primary Schools

2024.

We held an anti-bullying

week in April 2025 and

this policy was sent to all

homes to be read at

home.

Parents

March 2025

April 2025

Feedback sought from

parents using google

forms ( anonymous) on

current anti bullying

procedures in school.

New Bí Cineálta Policy

sent home to all homes for

feedback during Anti

Bullying Week 2025.

Resources, supports

available and initiatives

highlighted throughout the

week.

Board of Management Term 3 2025 Review and ratify new Bí

Cineálta policy after any

necessary amendments

made.

Date policy was approved :

Date policy was last reviewed :

Section B : Preventing Bullying Behaviour

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 ).

Culture and Environment : We seek to :

 Create a positive school culture and climate which is welcoming of difference

and diversity and is based on inclusivity; encourages pupils to disclose and

discuss incidents of bullying behaviour in a non-threatening environment; and

promotes respectful relationships across the school community.

 Embed a culture of “ telling” within our school;

 Establish a school culture where bullying behaviour is unacceptable and a

consistent approach to addressing such behaviour is in place;

 Decorate our school to promote our school culture of telling , inclusivity,

respect and equality. This is to allow pupils and the school community to feel

ownership of our Bí Cineálta plan.

 Partner with our school community to create a culture where bullying is not

tolerated.

How will we do this?

 Staff will use a uniform approach when handling all reports of bullying. All

staff members have a copy and one is on display in staffroom. Written

bullying incident report forms stored securely by Principal.

 Annual anti-bullying week with activities to include review of child-friendly

policy, poster making, SPHE lessons, associated homework e.g. acts of

kindness , reminder of our “telling” adults, pupil activites around the theme of

the week.

 Policy ( school & child friendly ) sent home annually.

 Effective supervision and monitoring of pupils.

 Identification by staff of areas / times where bullying where be more likely to

occur. Plans to address this put in place.

 “ Kindness “ “ Random acts of kindness” “ Telling “ slogans created and

placed around the school, inside and outside.

Curriculum : We seek to :

 Communicate a clear understanding of what bullying is and how it can

look at school.

 Provide teaching and learning , in line with DES guidelines, which is

respectful, fosters respect and inclusion and allows pupils to clearly

identify bullying behaviours.

How will we do this ?

 Teach both the RSE and SPHE curricula

 Modelling of respectful behaviour amongst the school community.

 Allowing pupils to participate in a variety of curricular and extra curricular

activities to promote self esteem , inclusion and respect.

 Consistent recording of , investigation of and following up on bullying

behaviours ( using our established procedures).

 Use the DES recommended cyber bullying resources e.g. webwise, my selfie

and the wider world, all aboard to digi town, HTML Heroes etc

 Annual review of policy , resources and initiatives .

Policy and Planning : We seek to :

The aim of Killaser NS Bí Cinealta policy is :

 To comply with the requirements of Bí Cineálta: Procedures to Prevent

and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post-Primary Schools

2024.

 To promote a positive school culture and climate which is welcoming

of difference and diversity and is based on inclusivity; encourages

pupils to disclose and discuss incidents of bullying behaviour in a non-

threatening environment; and promotes respectful relationships across

the school community.

 To have in place suitable and appropriate supervision and monitoring

practices;

 To develop and implement a consistent way of dealing with bullying

incidents and method of recording. Have procedures in place for

investigating and dealing with bullying incidents.

 To put in place supports for any involved or affected by bullying

behaviour;

 To work with relevant outside agencies to promote and prevent

bullying;

 To ensure all school policies reflect this Bí Cinealta policy ( Stay Safe ,

Code of Bahaviour , Enrolment, Supervision, Acceptable Use)

 Ensure all school community is on board with this policy.

Relationships and Partnerships : We seek to :

 Engage and include parents and pupils in the development of this Bí Cinealta

and of the child friendly policy;

 Help our pupils take part in all areas of daily school life;

 Work with outside agencies to educate and address bullying in our school;

 Promote initiatives throughout our school that engage pupils to look at

appropriate and inappropriate behaviours in this area;

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 )

 Staff promote respect among pupils and the school community ;

 The SPHE curriculum is fully implemented ;

 Self esteem is promoted through various acts of kindness staff member –

pupil, pupil-pupil and amongst staff;

 Good behaviour is promoted and praised ; individual achievements praised

and opportunities for success provided;

 Staff adhere to the school supervision policy and practices;

 Disclosed incidents of bullying are investigated and procedures followed ;

reports securely stored;

 School wide awareness raised e.g. anti bullying week

 Ensuring pupils know who and how to tell;

 Teach appropriate online behaviour;

 Promote online safety events for parents;

 Modelling of respectful behaviour across staff and pupils;

Section C : Addressing Bullying Behaviour

The teachers with responsibility for addressing bullying behaviour are as follows:

• The class teacher will oversee recording of bullying reports for students in their

class on the standard bullying record form – this includes using the procedure

guidelines to investigate reports of bullying and recording bullying behaviour on the

correct form on Aladdin

• The DDLP will follow up after twenty days to investigate if bullying has

ceased.Where bullying behaviour is determined to have occurred a meeting will be

held with the pupil and their parents. At this meeting the nature of the bullying will be

discussed, as will the effectiveness of strategies used, and the relationships of the

pupils involved. This review will be documented and take into account if the bullying

behaviour has ceased and the views of all the parties involved. The teacher will

document this process. All of this will take place within a 20 day period from the date

of the first record of bullying being made. The date it has been determined that the

bullying has ceased will also be recorded.

 Any engagement with outside agencies will be recorded.

 Ongoing supervision and support may be needed even where bullying has

ceased.

• All staff will be vigilant to bullying behaviour.

• Principal will inform Board of Management of incidences of Bullying.

• Deputy principal

• Principal is available to provide up to date information and supports if needed to

assist class teacher in addressing concerns.

When bullying behaviour occurs :

 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 ( 20 day period);

 Inform the 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):

The procedures used by Killasser NS to investigate and record any bullying incident

are :

1. Using “ the three questions” establish whether bullying has occurred or

not. If the answer to any of these questions is no then the behaviour is

not bullying behaviour.

2. If it is determined that bullying has occurred a bullying incident report

will be completed by the relevant teacher and saved on Aladdin.

3. The Principal is informed.

The primary aim in investigating and dealing with bullying is to resolve any

issues and to restore as far as is practicable, the relationships of the parties

involved (rather than to apportion blame).

4. All reports, including anonymous reports of bullying must be

investigated and dealt with by the relevant teacher. In that way pupils

will gain confidence in 'telling'. It should be made clear to all pupils that

when they report instances of bullying they are not considered to be

telling tales but are behaving responsibly.

5. Non-teaching staff such as secretaries, SNAs, caretakers and

cleaners are encouraged to report any incidences of bullying

behaviour witnessed by them or mentioned to them to the class

teacher.

6. Teachers should take a calm, unemotional problem-solving approach

when dealing with incidents of alleged bullying behaviour reported by

pupils, staff or parents.

7. On being informed of an alleged incident of bullying, the teacher

dealing with the report will first interview the victim(s) and discuss the

feelings which the victim(s) experienced because of the bullying

behaviour.

8. Initial investigations of bullying will be done in class where possible but

some incidents might be best investigated outside the classroom

situation to ensure the privacy of all involved.

9. When analysing incidents of bullying behaviour the relevant teacher

should seek answers to questions of what, where, who, when and

why. This should be done in a calm manner, setting an example in

dealing effectively with a conflict in a non- aggressive manner.

10. If a group of students is involved, each student should be engaged

with individually at first thereafter, all students involved should be met

as a group. At the group meeting, each student should be asked for

their account of what happened to ensure that everyone in the group is

clear about each other’s views. Each student should be supported as

appropriate, following the group meeting it may be helpful to ask the

students involved to write down their account of the incident(s).

11. Where the relevant has determined that a pupil has been engaged in

bullying behaviour, it should be made clear to him/her how he/she is in

breach of the school's anti-bullying policy and efforts should be made

to try to get him/her to see the perspective of the pupil being bullied.

12. The teacher does not apportion blame but should make an effort to try

to get him/her to see the situation from the perspective of the pupil

being bullied. S/he emphasises that the intention is not to punish

perpetrators but to talk to them, to explain how harmful and hurtful

bullying is and to seek a promise that it will stop. If that promise is

forthcoming and is honoured there will be no penalty and that will be

the end of the matter.

13. Where bullying behaviour is determined to have occurred a meeting

will be held with the pupil and their parents. At this meeting the nature

of the bullying will be discussed, as will the effectiveness of strategies

used, and the relationships of the pupils involved. This review will be

documented and take into account if the bullying behaviour has

ceased and the views of all the parties involved. The teacher will

document this process. All of this will take place within a 20 day period

from the date of the first record of bullying being made. The date it has

been determined that the bullying has ceased will also be recorded.

14. When an investigation is completed and/or a bullying situation is

resolved the teacher will complete a report, to include the findings of

the investigation, the strategy adopted and the outcome of the

intervention, as well as any other relevant information.

15. If the the bullying behaviour has not ceased the teacher should review

the strategies used in consultation with the students involved and their

parents. A timeframe should be agreed for further engagement until

the bullying behaviour has ceased if it becomes clear that the student

who is displaying the bullying behaviour is continuing to display the

behaviour, then the school consideration should be given to using the

strategies to deal with inappropriate behaviour as provided for within

the school’s Code of Behaviour. If disciplinary sanctions are

considered, this is a matter between the relevant student, their parents

and the school. If a parent(s) is not satisfied with how the bullying

behaviour has been addressed by the school, in accordance with the

Bí Cineálta Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for

Primary and Post-Primary Schools. they should be referred to the

school’s complaints procedures. If a parent is dissatisfied with how a

complaint has been handled, they may make a complaint to the

Ombudsman for Children if they believe that the school’s actions have

had a negative effect on the student.

16. Follow-up meetings with the relevant parties involved may be

arranged separately with a view to bringing them together at a later

date if the pupil who has been bullied is ready and agreeable.

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

)

The school's programme of support for working with pupils affected by bullying

involves a whole school approach. Given the complexity of bullying behaviour, no

one intervention/support programme works in all situations.

Supporting Bullied pupils:

The following principles must be adhered to when addressing bullying behaviour:

 ensure that the student experiencing bullying behaviour feels listened to 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

Where bullying behaviour has occurred, the parents of the parties involved must be

contacted at an early stage to inform them of the matter and to consult with them on

the actions to be taken to address the behaviour as outlined in the school’s Bí

Cineálta policy.

Supporting Bullying pupils:

 Making it clear that bullying pupils who reform are not blamed or punished

and get a ‘clean sheet,’

 Making it clear that bullying pupils who reform are doing the right and

honorable thing and giving them praise for this,

 Making adequate counseling facilities available to help those who need it

learn other ways of meeting their needs besides violating the rights of others,

 Helping those who need to raise their self-esteem by encouraging them to

become involved in activities that develop friendships and social skills (e.g.

participation in group work in class and in extra-curricular

 group or team activities during or after school),

 Using learning strategies throughout the school and the curriculum to help

enhance pupils’ feelings of self-worth,

 In dealing with negative behavior in general, encouraging teachers and

parents to focus on, challenge and correct the behaviour while supporting the

child,

 In dealing with bullying behaviour seeking resolution and offering a fresh start

with a ‘clean sheet’ and no blame in return for keeping a promise to reform.

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

Signed : Date :