2.2) The policy is easy to understand for pupils, parents and staff

Rating description: 

• Fully met: Pupils, parents and staff have fed back to the school that they understand the policy. The policy is written in easy to understand language and is easily accessible
• Partially met: Some of the policy is written in easy to understand language and/or we haven’t asked for feedback from pupils, parents and staff.
• Not yet met: The policy isn’t easy to understand.

Tips:

• It is so very important that the anti-bullying policy is a document that can be understood by the whole community. This includes people where English isn't their first language, those with SEN, younger children etc.
• Have you tested it with young people and parents?
• Here are some links to resources about writing in plain English:
  • Department of Health: Making written information easier to understand for people with learning disabilities

  • Am I making myself clear? Mencap’s guidelines for accessible writing

• Some schools will write an 'accessible' version of their policy or a policy for children or parents. We think whilst that's a way to go, we would suggest you trying to write your policy in language that is easy to understand for all so that you have just one version that is owned by all.

Resources and examples: 

You can see tools and case studies in the attachments section below. 

All Together schools have said:

Our new AB policy is very clear and explicitly lists the steps you need to take if you believe a child is being bullied. With the help of some of our pupils, we have also created a child friendly AB leaflet to help our pupils understand. This leaflet will be sent home to all parents in the new academic Year.