Education Schools Anti-Bullying Guidance for Wales

On 6 November 2019, the Welsh Government launched brand new Anti-Bullying Guidance targeted at governing bodies for maintained schools, local authorities, parents, carers, children and young people. EACH is delighted to have developed this with Youthworks for the Welsh Government. It is a brand new publication building on Wales’s original 2011 Anti-Bullying Guidance “Respecting Others”. 

At its launch Education Minister Kirsty Williams said:

“We are committed to ensuring that all our learners feel safe, secure and are properly supported to achieve their full potential. We are determined to address bullying holistically and this is achieved by understanding and dealing with the root causes of unacceptable behaviour. We want our schools to be inclusive and engaging environments where priority is placed on well-being, so learners feel safe and are ready to learn. It is so important that children and young people are taught, both at home and in school, about building and maintaining respectful relationships and this new guidance will help achieve that.”

The revised guidance outlines the Welsh Government’s expectations for schools to:

1. take a proactive approach to prevent bullying
2. have an anti-bullying policy linking to school policies including behaviour and safeguarding
3. record and monitor incidents of bullying to help take pro-active steps to challenge bullying
4. to regularly review their anti-bullying policy and strategy in collaboration with their learners at least every 3 years