Together we can stop bullying and create safe environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn.

Cognita Schools has signed up to eradicate bullying in our schools, working in partnership as an associate member of the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA); based at the renowned charity, the National Children’s Bureau in London. ABA is a coalition of organisations and individuals working together to stop bullying.

ABA coordinates anti-bullying week each November and is the national voice for evidence-based practice in this field.

We access specialist training for all our schools, respect difference and welcome diversity. Our schools’ anti-bullying policies support the values of ABA. We believe that bullying in any form is wrong and should not be tolerated. It is a behaviour choice and anyone can be encouraged to change their behaviour. We believe that children have the right to feel safe, secure and valued and that creating a safe environment and dealing with bullying is everyone’s responsibility. We support a range of positive strategies in our schools to tackle and prevent bullying. We actively challenge the use of humiliation, fear, ridicule and other similar approaches. Our policy is implemented whenever the school is responsible for the conduct and welfare of children. As successful schools, we create an environment that prevents bullying from being a serious problem in the first place. Schools that excel at tackling bullying have created an ethos of good behaviour where pupils treat one another and school staff with respect because they know it is the right way to behave.

To find out more about the Anti-Bullying Alliance, please click here.

The following are two links that we feel will be useful for parents:

www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents is a refreshed suite of articles and guidance on all aspects of child internet safety.

Families can also use the website to access the CEOP Safety Centre (www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre) where they can report abuse and exploitation direct to CEOP.