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Thank you for your information request.

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Information Requests Privacy Notice: [1]https://tinyurl.com/yac8kodc

Regards,
Aberdeenshire Information Enquiries

References

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1. https://tinyurl.com/yac8kodc

Dear Ms Elaine Manson

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 ("The Act")

We refer to your request dated 14/06/2020 02:05, for the following
information regarding reports of bullying to schools. 

I would like to know information about the procedures of bullying reported
to school & how teachers should go about protecting the victim from
further abuse.  Bullying can cause shame & embarrassment, in which the
child concerned finds it hard to speak about, in some cases they can’t
describe what’s happening and in other cases they do not know the
culprits’ names.  When a child tells their parents, who then relays it to
the school? In your opinion should the school and any other agency dismiss
this, if the child will not inform a professional.  The distress a child
goes through is immense, they pluck up the courage as they can’t take
anymore and when reported they are expected to say it again. When a child
is bullied, they lose their self-esteem and confidence and it is
inappropriate for them to have to reveal it again. Most children are in a
state of fear and it takes bravery & courage to speak up.  Bullying is
usually done in corridors, toilets, cloakrooms where there is lack of
supervision and almost always goes unseen. Yet due to no staff seeing it,
the issue can be dismissed, and the parent put down to having mental
health problems.  In some cases, it is blamed on the parent and they get
investigated for neglect & child abuse.  There is no understanding of the
effects bullying has on home life and parents are blamed for the issues at
home & accused of neglect.  How can we address this problem by ignoring it
and blame OMG the parents.  Anti-bullying policies cover inclusion,
prevention, relationship building. This does not address the problem.
Children will pretend they against bullying yet continue to target their
victim.

Please find attached our Anti-Bullying Policy as Appendix 1.

If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with this response, please refer
to the further information attached.

Yours faithfully

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator

Education & Children’s Services

Further Information:

Aberdeenshire Council's Review Procedure under the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland)
Regulations 2004 can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/council-...

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www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk

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