Recording and monitoring of bullying incidents in schools: supplementary guidance

Effective engagement

Vital role of parents and carers

61. Parents and carers should have access to a school's anti-bullying policy and have an opportunity to engage with its development and implementation. Schools and local authorities should ensure that this is accessible for all parents and carers.

62. It's vital that schools engage directly with parents and carers and foster a positive environment where they are encouraged to work in partnership to ensure a consistent message relating to bullying is shared between home and school. Parents and carers have an important role in alerting bullying incidents to school staff and should expect to be listened to and taken seriously.

63. Please refer to ' Respect for All' (page 23) for further information on how everyone can work to prevent and manage incidents of bullying.

Vital role of children and young people

64. Children and young people play a vital role in the reporting of bullying incidents. Inclusive and safe environments in schools are essential to creating cultures where young people feel able to disclose their experiences and/or concerns. Schools will want to consider:

• Have children and young people been involved in the development of the school's anti-bullying policy?
• Are children and young people clear about how to report and what will happen if they do?
• Are children and young people able to disclose concerns about bullying and trust that these concerns will be taken seriously and adults will intervene effectively?