The initiative, which was unveiled last week by education minister Ivan Lewis, includes an information film for television, an anti-bullying charter and a series of regional conferences on bullying. The Government is also spending 5m on specialist curriculum materials, training and group intervention work that is to be trialled in 3,500 primary schools to help promote positive behaviour and good attendance.
Children aged four to eight and their families who need extra support will be introduced to group activities to teach the children the skills to manage their own behaviour. The activities will be provided by child support professionals including mental health specialists. Primary school teachers are also to receive training in effective classroom and behaviour management.
Mr Lewis said that tackling bad behaviour in the classroom was central to reducing anti-social behaviour and 'essential if we are to raise educational standards and create a greater respect for teachers'. He added, 'We must have a new zero tolerance to bullying in our schools. No child should know the indignity and distress of suffering in silence.'
The initiative was welcomed by the NSPCC. Chief executive Mary Marsh said the impact of bullying upon a child's life 'can be devastating, destroying confidence, self-esteem and making childhood a misery. We must remember that it's not just confined to school; bullying happens in the home, in youth clubs and on the streets where they play, reaching many areas of a child's life.'
The anti-bullying charter is being developed by an alliance of professional associations and voluntary organisations to help schools check that they are doing all they can.
David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, welcomed the charter and said, 'It is vital that the concerns of pupils and parents are taken seriously and dealt with sensitively and sympathetically.
A charter by itself does not deliver results, because bullying is a notoriously complex and difficult issue to handle. But, if it can drive home the message that bullying needs to be identified and tackled relentlessly, it could achieve a great deal.'
Information for parents, children and carers on bullying can be found on the websites www.dfes.gov.uk/bullyingand www.parentcentre.gov.uk.
