Playground Bullying

Suggestions for headteachers, teachers, staff and governors: (a longer version of this page can be found here)

• Conduct a survey of the children to discover if there is a problem on the playground

• Work with the children to make up a list of playground rules

• Use an assembly to enable the children to present the rules

• Photocopy the rules and have every child sign them. Keep a copy in their files so that no one can say 'I didn't know the rules!' Ensure that there is a copy of rules in the staff handbook

• Stagger the times the children play, if necessary

• Have different parts of the playground set out for games, quiet activities, playing with balls, etc. Much trouble arises because children run into each other while playing. Perhaps some activities, such as clubs, could be set up with parent helpers during playtime so that not all children would have to go out on the playground

• Ensure that the playground supervisors understand that they have a role in monitoring children's behaviour

• Deal with bullying and intimidation immediately. (Telling children to 'go and sort it out' almost ensures that a fight will follow. Sorting it out is the responsibility of the playground supervisors.)

• It is important to have clear procedures for the supervisors to report such incidents

• If you have a bad problem with bullying on the playground, keep a camera handy and take pictures. Works wonders sometimes just to point the camera at the trouble spot - no one wants a photo proving they were the cause of the trouble.

A longer version of these guidelines can be found here

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