Anti-Bullying Policy

FAPA recognises the utmost importance of a staff, volunteers, student and member’s physical and emotional wellbeing and therefore has the duty to ensure a safe environment for every member. FAPA staff have a duty and obligation in protecting students and members from harassment, discrimination and bullying.

Fixation Academy of Performing Arts provides a supportive, caring and safe environment in which all children are free from the fear of being bullied. Bullying of any form is not tolerated in our club, whether carried out by a child or an adult.

FAPA promotes well-being, individual development and has a duty of care for all members who attend. Our aim is for all students and members to have an enriching time with us and have a great sense of achievement at the end of each session. We want members to feel secure, confident and to grow in self-esteem therefore the prevention of bullying (physical, verbal or emotional) is a central principle. 

What is bullying?

Fixation Academy of Performing Arts defines bullying as the repeated harassment of others through emotional, physical, psychological or verbal abuse.

Physical: Pushing, scratching, spitting, kicking, hitting, biting, taking or damaging belongings, tripping up, punching or using any sort of violence against another person.

Psychological: Behaviour likely to create a sense of fear or anxiety in another person.

Emotional: Being deliberately unkind, shunning or excluding another person from a group or tormenting them. For example, making another person feel ‘left out’ of a game or activity, passing notes about others or making fun of another person.

Verbal: Name-calling, put-downs, ridiculing or using words to attack, threaten or insult. For example, spreading rumours or making fun of another person’s appearance.

Racial harassment can take any of the forms of bullying listed above but is motivated by the victim’s colour, race, nationality, or ethnic or national origins. Incidents of racial harassment will be recorded as such on the Incident log. (See our Equalities Policy for more information on how we deal with and challenge discriminatory behaviour.

Preventing bullying behaviour

Staff at Fixation Academy of Performing Arts will foster an anti-bullying culture in the following ways:

• Encouraging caring and nurturing behaviour
• Discussing friendships and encouraging group and team play
• Encouraging children to report bullying without fear
• Discussing the issues surrounding bullying with the children, including why bullying behaviour will not be tolerated
• Exploring the consequences of bullying behaviour with the children.

Responding to bullying behaviour

Fixation Academy of Performing Arts acknowledges that despite all efforts to prevent it, bullying behaviour is likely to occur on occasion. When such incidents occur, the Club will follow the procedure outlined below:

• We will address all incidents of bullying thoroughly and sensitively.
• Victims of bullying will be offered the immediate opportunity to discuss the matter with a member of staff who will reassure the child and offer support.
• They will be reassured that what they say will be taken seriously and handled sympathetically.
• Staff will support the individual who has been bullied, keeping them under close supervision, and checking their welfare regularly.
• If another child witnesses bullying and reports this, staff will reassure them that they have done the right thing. Staff will then investigate the matter.
• If a member of staff witnesses an act of bullying, involving children or adults at the club, they will inform the manager.
• Children who have bullied will be helped by discussing what has happened, establishing why the child became involved. Staff will help the child to understand why this form of behaviour is unacceptable and will encourage him/her to change their behaviour
• If the bullying persists, the parents will be informed, and we will work with them to try to resolve the issues.
• If this fails to stop the bullying, more serious actions may have to be taken, as laid out in the Suspensions and Exclusions policy.

• All incidents of bullying will be reported to the manager and will be recorded on an Incident Log. The manager and other relevant staff will review the Club’s procedures in respect of bullying, to ensure that practices are relevant and effective.

Related policies

Equalities policy, Suspensions and Exclusions policy

Director’s responsibility:

The director has the responsibility to ensure that unfair treatment does not occur in work areas by challenging inappropriate behaviour, responding to and supporting victims of unfair treatment, providing appropriate advice and enforcing the right sanctions so that there is not a repeat of any victimisation. 

Staffing responsibilities:

All staff will ensure they are responsible for their own behaviour. Each staff member has a duty of care and respect for every member of the FAPA Team, including colleagues and team members. Any staff member who does not abide to the anti-bullying procedures will be subject to disciplinary action. 

Our Staffs responsibilities are: 

1. We protect students, members and staff in our care from all forms of bullying including violence, threats, teasing, name calling, exclusions, stealing and spreading rumours or malicious gossip.
2. All staff members must enforce the above protection in their conduct, classes and support. 
3. Staff are to encourage members towards a positive self-image and help students and members to see themselves as company members, therefore supporting positive relationships with their peers and tutors.
4. Staff will always support and offer suitable advice to all members and parents involved in bullying incidents and to provide opportunities for members to discuss bullying with staff.
5. Bullying will be treated seriously and the bully will be sanctioned according to the disciplinary procedures and in serious incidents they will be asked to leave.
6. Staff will listen to the student’s / member’s concerns, taking them seriously and acting upon them accordingly. 
7. Staff will work with members to make them aware of rules against bullying and encourage a sense of collective responsibility.
8. Staff will take appropriate action if an incident occurs, including mediation, support, parental involvement, sanctions and record keeping.
9. Staff will respect each other and encourage others to respect one another. 
10. To support staff members who are victims of harassment/bullying/discrimination. 

Additional: 

If we have any concerns that a student / member in our company is being bullied or is bullying, we will discuss the matter with the member/parent/carer immediately. 

The following steps may be taken when dealing with incidents:

• If bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be dealt with immediately by the member of staff who has been approached. 
• A clear account of the incident will be recorded via the Incident Form and given to management.
• An investigation if appropriate will be conducted and will record the incident
• Parents/carers will be informed
• The following disciplinary steps can be taken:
• Official warnings to cease offending
• If it continues, the student / member/s will be asked to leave the company.

Written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2021): Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Managing Behaviour [3.53 – 3.54] and Child Protection [3.4].