School-Based Child Protection

and Anti-Bullying Policies

Prepared by:

CONCEPCION J. SIBAL

Master Teacher I

Noted by:

GLORIA C. AGUINALDO

Principal II

This is a child - friendly school.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DepEd Mission … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 1

Piat Central Elementary School … … … … … … … … … 2

Table of Contents … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 3

Introduction … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … … … 4

Statement of Intent/Objectives … … … … … … … … … … .. 5

Governing Bodies … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 6

Policies and Procedures … … … … … … … … … … … … … 7

Roles and Responsibilities … … … … … … … … … … … … 10

Mechanism and Procedures … … … … … … … … … … … 11

Ethos … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 13

Cross Reference to Other School Policies … … … … … … … 14

Information and Dissemination … … … … … … … … … … 14

I. Introduction

Piat Central Elementary School (PCES) upholds the DepEd Mission in formulating its policies on Child Protection and Anti-Bullying with the aim to ensure that our school is a safe learning environment for all of our pupils.

As a school our mission is to be one where each individual is valued and respected. We meet the needs of all our learners by offering them every opportunity to learn and develop in order to fulfill their potential.

PCES has this written policy which is adapted by all teaching and non-teaching staff. Because of their day to day contact with individual children during the school terms, teachers and other school staff are particularly well placed to observe the outward signs of abuse, changes in behavior or failure to develop.

The school PCES fully recognizes its responsibilities for child protection.

Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the school.

These are five main elements to our policy:

· Ensuring that we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children.

· Raising awareness of child protection issues and equipping children with the skills needed to keep them safe.

· Developing and then implementing procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.

· Supporting pupils who have been abused in accordance with his/her agreed child protection plan.

· Establishing a safe environment in which children can learn and develop

II. Statement of Intent

We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our pupils so they can learn in a positive and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our school. If bullying does occur, all pupils should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively.

As a school we will aim to respond promptly and effectively to all issues of bullying.

III. Objectives of this Policy

· To Establish and maintain environment where children feel secure; are encouraged to talk, and are listened to

· To ensure children know that there are adults in the school whom they can approach if they are worried.

· To include opportunities in the curriculum for children to develop the skills they need to recognize and stay safe from abuse.

· To ensure that all teaching staff including the school head, pupils and parents has an understanding of what bullying is.

· To ensure that all teaching staff including the school head know what the school procedure is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.

· To ensure that all pupils and parents know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.

· To ensure that as a school we take bullying seriously. Pupils and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.

· To ensure that bullying is never tolerated.

IV. Governing Body

School Child Protection Committee:

Gloria C. Aguinaldo - Chairman

Principal II

Judy P. Rabanal - Co-Chairman

Master Teacher II

Concepcion J. Sibal - Teacher Representative

Master Teacher I

Marietta Carungui - Parent Representative

GPTA President

Christine Joy Espinosa- Pupil Representative

SPG President

Eriberto Cabacungan - Community Representative

Barangay Captain

V. Policies and procedures

A. Prohibited acts

1. Being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures)

2. Pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence;

3. Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures

4. Unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments;

5. Homophobic because of, or focusing on the issue of sexuality

6. Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumors, teasing

7. Mobile threats by text messaging & calls; misuse of associated technology, i.e.

camera &video facilities

B. Preventions and intervention programs

B.1. Initial intervention:

1. Pupil/parent reports an incidence of bullying to any member of the school child protection committee.

2. The committee member should make it clear to the victim that revenge is not the

solution.

3. The committee member will record the details of the incident and discuss it with the pupil to ensure accuracy

4. The bullying behavior or threats will be investigated.

5. Witness statements may be taken from other pupils.

6. Every effort will be made to resolve the problem through counseling of both parties

7. A restorative meeting will take place between the pupils involved so that the both

pupils can understand the behavior. The outcome will include agreed strategies for

ensuring there is no further occurrence of bullying and to improve the working

relationship between the individuals involved.

8. Following the restorative meeting a contract of behaviors may be put into place

to support both the victim and the pupil(s) leading the bullying.

9. In all cases parents will be informed and there will be an opportunity to discuss the

problem.

10. Actions will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behavior.

11. A review meeting with take place to assess how successful initial intervention

has been and to decide whether any further action needs to be taken.

B.2. Further intervention

1. If there is no significant change in behavior of the bully a further restorative

meeting will be arranged. The outcome will include a contract of behavior.

2. Parents will be updated regarding interventions and will be informed of future

actions which may need to put into place.

3. Further actions will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behavior.

4. If the bullying behavior continues, and counseling has not worked, then sanctions

follow. Appropriate sanctions will be applied to the bully and if necessary and

appropriate, police will be consulted.

4. It is important that counseling is maintained for both parties, even when sanctions

have been applied.

B.3. Outcomes

1) The bully (bullies) will be asked to genuinely apologize and must engage in the

restorative process with the victim(s) in order to reconcile the pupils.

2) Appropriate consequences will also be put into place to sanction the behavior

and to educate the bully regarding appropriate behaviors. In serious cases,

suspension or even exclusion will be considered

3) After the incident / incidents have been investigated and dealt with, each case will

be monitored to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.

B.4. Signs and Symptoms

A child may indicate by signs or behavior that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

1. is frightened of walking to or from school

2. is unwilling to go to school (school phobic)

3. begins to truant

4. becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence

5. starts stammering

6. cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares

7. feels ill in the morning

8. begins to do poorly in school work

9. comes home with clothes torn or books damaged

10.has possessions which are damaged or " go missing"

11.asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)

12.has unexplained cuts or bruises

13.comes home starving (money / lunch has been stolen)

14.becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable

15.is bullying other children or siblings

16.stops eating

17.is frightened to say what's wrong

18.gives improbable excuses for any of the above

19.Developing sleep problems and having nightmares

C. Confidentiality

All staff are aware that they must not promise to keep, ‘secrets’ with children and that if children disclose abuse this must be passed on to the Child Protection Committee as soon as possible and the child should be told who their disclosure will be shared with.

Staff will be informed of relevant information in respect of individual cases regarding child protection on a ‘need to know basis’ only.

D. Record Keeping

Child Protection records are kept centrally and securely by the Child Protection Committee. Staff are aware that they must make a record of child protection issues and events as soon as possible and that these records must be signed and dated. Child protection records must not be made in the child’s curriculum file.

E. Working with other agencies

Schools are not investigating agencies and it is essential that child protection issues are addressed through agreed procedures however schools continue to play a role after referral and need to develop strong links with partner agencies particularly social care.

PCES recognizes the importance of multi-agency working and will ensure that staff are able to attend all relevant meetings including case conferences, core groups and strategy meetings.

F. Allegations against members of staff

PCES recognizes that it is possible for staff and volunteers to behave in a manner that causes harm to children and takes any allegation made against members of staff or volunteers seriously. The local arrangements for managing allegations are understood and followed. All staff know who to talk to if they are concerned about the behavior of an adult.

G. The use of school premises by other organizations

Where services or activities are provided separately by another body, using the school premises, the Governing Body will seek assurance that the body concerned has appropriate policies and procedures in place in regard to Safeguarding children and child protection.

VI. Roles and Responsibilities

A. The Role of School Child Protection Committee

· Ensure that everyone is supported to carry out his task and that they are given time to fulfill the duties that their role demands

· Attend required trainings and refresher every three years if possible

· Ensure that the child protection procedures are followed within the school

· Ensure that all staff and volunteers within the school are aware policies and procedures

· Supports the school in all attempts to eliminate bullying from our School.

The committee will not condone any bullying at all in the school and any incidents of bullying that do occur will be taken very seriously, and dealt with appropriately;

· If a parent is dissatisfied with the way the School has dealt with a bullying incident, they should follow the DepEd’s Complaints Procedure.

B. The role of all staff

· All forms of bullying are taken seriously, and proactive measures are taken to prevent it from taking place.

· Teachers are responsible for reporting any incidents of concern.

· The member of staff must report the incident to the School Child Protection Committee, this is encouraged to be done as soon as possible.

C. The role of the Pupils

What can a Pupil do if they are being bullied?

· Remember that your silence is the bully’s greatest weapon.

· Tell yourself that you do not deserve to be bullied and that bullying is wrong.

· Be proud of who you are.

· Try not to show that you are upset or scared. It is hard, but a bully thrives on fear.

· Be strong inside – say “No!” Walk confidently away. Let a teacher know as soon as possible.

· Fighting back will make things worse.

What do you do if you know someone is being bullied?

· Take action! Watching and doing nothing looks as if you are on the side of the bully.

It makes the victim feel more unhappy and on their own.

VII. Mechanism and Procedures

1. Adopt and implement this child protection/anti-bullying policy in accordance with

the IRR of RA 10627 and submit the same to the Division Office.

2. Provide pupils and their parents or guardians a copy of this child protection / anti -

bullying policy

3. Educate pupils on the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the school

as well as the mechanisms for the anonymous reporting of acts of bullying or

retaliation;

5. Educate parents and guardians about the dynamics of bullying, the child protection or anti-bullying policy of the school and how parents and guardians can provide support and reinforce the said policy at home;

5. Devise prevention, intervention, protective and remedial measures to address

bullying;

6. Conduct the capacity building activities for guidance counselors/teachers and the

members of the Child Protection Committees;

7. Ensure effective implementation of the anti-bullying policy and monitor

compliance therewith;

8. Ensure the safety of the victim of bullying, the bully, and the bystander and

determine the students' needs for protection;

9. Ensure that the rights of the victim, the bully, and the bystander are protected and

upheld during the conduct of the investigation;

10. Accomplish the Intake Sheet prescribed in Annex "B", whenever there is an

incident of bullying, maintain a record of all proceedings related to bullying, and

submit reports prescribed in "Annex A," of DepED Order No. 40, s. 2012, to the

Division Office;

11. Maintain a public record or statistics of incidents of bullying and retaliation;

12. Coordinate with appropriate offices and other agencies or instrumentalities for

appropriate assistance and intervention, as required by the circumstances.

VIII. Ethos

PCES recognizes the importance of creating an ethos within school that will help children feel safe and confident that they will be listened to.

“We recognize that children who are abused or witness violence are likely to have low self- esteem and may find it difficult to develop a sense of self worth. They may feel helplessness, humiliation and some sense of blame. Our school may be the only stable, secure and predictable element in their lives.”

Our ethos as a schools aims to create an atmosphere where pupils who are being bullied, or others who know about it, know that they will be listened to and believed, and that action taken will be swift but sensitive to their concerns. We must ensure that pupils feel safe to tell and understand that by not telling the bully or bullies are protected and gives them the message that they can continue, perhaps bullying others too.

In line with the Ethos, PCES will endeavor to support all pupils through:

· Ensuring the content of the curriculum includes social and emotional aspects of learning.

· Ensuring that child protection is included in the curriculum to help children recognize when they don’t feel safe and to identify who they should tell.

· Promoting a positive, supportive and secure environment where pupils can develop a sense of being valued.

· The school behavior policy which is aimed at supporting vulnerable pupils in the school.

· The school will ensure that the pupil knows that some behavior is unacceptable but they are valued and not to be blamed for any abuse which has occurred.

IX. Cross reference to other school policies

PCES recognizes that a number of other policies and procedures developed and operated by school form part of the wider agenda of Safeguarding and Promoting Children’s Welfare and this policy should be read in conjunction with the policies listed below:

· Whole school anti bullying policy

· Health and safety policy

· Procedures for accessing risk i.e. school trips

· Safer recruitment policies and practice

· Induction and Code of conduct for staff

· Policies that recognize specific vulnerable groups

X. Information and Dissemination

A. Information for pupils

If you are being bullied, or you know that someone else is, please tell us straight away, and it will be dealt with. Not telling means the victim will continue to suffer and the bully will carry on, probably with others too. We all have a responsibility to make sure that bullying is not allowed to continue in our school.

B. Information for parents

If you think your son/daughter may be being bullied, or s/he tells you that s/he is, please let us know straight away. Please reassure him/her that we will deal with it sensitively but firmly. If your son/daughter tells us s/he is being bullied, or we discover

that s/he is bullying others, we will contact you, and will discuss together how the situation can be improved.