Well done to Banksy class for having the best attendance this week within KS1.  In KS2 this week, Steve Backshall class achieved the best attendance so well done to them too.  Another great week for attendance at Peninsula East as a whole but can we now strive to be above 95% which would be amazing!

Oliver Jeffers Class - Sophia (Open-minded) & Brooke (Open-minded)

Julia Donaldson Class - Macie (Open-minded) & Isabella (Thinker)

Banksy Class - Tilly (Reflective) & Harper (Open-minded)

Maya Angelou Class - Chloe (Caring) & Jaynee (Risk-taker)

Paul O'Grady Class - Ellis P(Knowledgeable) & Harry (Principled)

Steve Backshall Class - Austin(Knowledgeable) & Graci (Thinker)

Emmeline Pankhurst Class -Cooper (Open-Minded) & Harmony (Knowledgeable)

David Attenborough Class - Teddy T (Communicator) & Bobby (Inquirer)

WHAT IS BULLYING? 

The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying as: “the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power.“ 

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS BEING BULLIED? 

You know your child best!

Look out for any changes in their behaviour – for example becoming quieter or withdrawn or acting out and getting in trouble. They may also be reluctant to go to school or take part in their usual activities, may become upset after using their phones or devices, or may complain of frequent unexplained illnesses like tummy upsets or headaches. You may also find that their sleep is disturbed, and they are showing signs of sadness or anxiety. 

Your child may share with you that other people are unkind to them or have said or done things to hurt them. Always listen and take them seriously, consider the facts, and work with them on next steps. Children are developing physically, emotionally, and socially and need our help to understand how to behave towards others and when they have crossed a line. For example, children need to learn when teasing or ‘banter’ can become bullying behaviour (e.g. when it’s offensive and/or causes hurt). 

For some children it may be particularly difficult to regulate their behaviour or actions, and they may need additional support. Others will be copying prejudicial or harmful behaviour they have learnt from others. It’s also common for children to have arguments and friendship fall outs and they will need our guidance to resolve conflict, make amends and move on. 

Please remember every situation is different, and if you are not sure, always come and speak to us in school.

WHAT ADVICE CAN I GIVE MY CHILD? 

1. Be kind and respectful to others: you have a vital role to play in modelling positive relationships. Your child is always watching you and learning from you. It’s important to talk kindly about other people and support your child to be kind and respectful to others.

2. Understand true friendship: you can teach your child the qualities of a true friendship such as kindness, respect, boundaries, laughter, forgiveness, and trust. This will help your child recognise if others are being unkind or manipulative towards them.

3. Encourage your child to be open to friendship rather than insisting on one best friend. Experience shows you can be vulnerable if they decide not to be your friend anymore! 

4. Grow in confidence: we all have times when we feel shy and self-conscious. Some children are naturally more confident than others, others are quieter, and are happy with their own company or the company of a small group of friends. If your child is unhappy and wants help to grow in confidence then talk to the school to see what support they can give (e.g. a buddy or peer mentor system) and consider activities and groups outside of school that might help your child grow in confidence (e.g. sports, Scouts and Girl Guides, arts and drama, martial arts, volunteering).

5.  Role play together how to handle difficult situations: it is likely that your child will experience name calling, will get into arguments and may even be involved in physical fights. Role play together the different options you have in these situations, what you could say or do, and who; else could help.

6.  Establish physical boundaries: help your child to understand that their body belongs to them, and that everyone has their own physical boundaries. This means it is not okay to be rough with other people, or to touch, hug or grab them without their consent. It is never okay for someone to physically hurt someone else and children need our help and guidance to learn to give people personal space. 

7. Make sure your child knows who else can help: there may be times, particularly as your child grows older, where they do not always tell you what is on their mind. This could be because they are worried about how you might react, or they do not want to upset or worry you. Help them think about other people in their lives who they can talk to. This could be a friend, a family member, a teacher at school or another adult they know and trust. You can find details of more organisations who can help children and families below.