Recording and monitoring of bullying incidents in schools: supplementary guidance

Confidentiality

43. How and when schools involve parents and carers in relation to bullying, will be set out by local authority anti-bullying policy. Bullying incidents should be handled carefully and sensitively whilst considering the opinion of a child or young person in line with Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is important to ensure the child or young person's privacy is respected unless they disclose potential harm to themselves or someone else.

44. Children and young people should normally be informed of any intention to share information and why this is felt necessary. An exception to this would be where you believe informing the child would place the child at significant risk of harm. If a bullying incident has occurred in school it is important to talk to the children or young people involved before talking to parents/carers. If they do not wish the nature of the bullying incident disclosed, every effort should be made for it not to be.

45. Changes were made to the Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004 (as amended), which extended the age range of some of the provisions, so that they now cover children aged 12-15, as well as young people and parents. This means that children can now ask for their additional support needs to be identified and planned for; receive advice and information about their additional support needs; be part of discussions about the support that they will receive; and access dispute resolution procedures to resolve concerns. Procedures and support in relation to bullying incidents fall under the terms of the Act.

46. In keeping with Getting it right for every child national policy, many local authorities provide a Named Person service for children and families. For children in school the Named Person is usually a promoted teacher such as a head teacher, depute or pastoral care teacher who can provide advice or support in response to a request from a child or parent.

47. Teachers should ensure that they are fully aware of children and young people's right to privacy in the context of disclosures and the limits of that right in terms of child protection guidance. The right to privacy is not an absolute right, and where there is a child protection concern, local child protection procedures must be followed.