page background

Spotlight on Safeguarding

Edition 9 - November

Spotlight on Safeguarding Edition 9 - November
Spotlight onSafeguardingEdition 9 - November

Anti-bullying week: Choose Respect

Anti-Bullying Week Anti-Bullying Week is Monday 11th- Friday 15th November. The theme for this year’s anti-bullying week is ‘Choose Respect.’


Bullying, as defined by the Anti-Bullying Alliance is; the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical,


As parents, we all want to ensure our children grow up in an environment that is safe, supportive and free from bullying. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by fostering a culture of respect at home and in school. Teaching children the value of respect helps them develop understanding, empathy and kindness toward others. When children learn to appreciate and accept differences — whether in appearance, abilities, beliefs or cultural backgrounds- they are less likely to view these differences as reasons to exclude or mistreat others.


By instilling respect, we can help our children understand that everyone has their own unique perspective and experiences, which reduces the likelihood of them engaging in harmful behaviours or making negative assumptions. Encouraging mutual respect also helps children develop empathy, allowing them to put themselves in someone else's shoes. This not only discourages bullying but also promotes positive, supportive interactions among peers.

Support for children facing online bullying: Navigating the digital landscape

As children increasingly engage with the online world, it becomes clear that they encounter more negative interactions, some of which can be considered bullying. It iscrucialforchildrentoberespectfulonlineastheinternet’sanonymitycanmagnifytheimpactof more positive and supportive digital space, while also protecting them from engaging in or becoming victims of harmful behaviour. By teaching respect online, we help our children develop empathy and responsible digital habits, which are essential in today’s connected world.

Three ways for children to avoid bullying on WhatsApp

Navigating negative situations on WhatsApp WhatsApp accommodates more than 1,000 participants in a group chat, and platforms that support such large groups can heighten the risk of bullying incidents among young people.


  1. Block and report: Children can block users to stop receiving messages, calls and updates, and report bullies for WhatsApp to investigate.
  2. Adjust privacy settings: Parents can help children limit who can add them to group chats and who sees their profile details, reducing unwanted interactions.
  3. Avoid engagement in negative situations: It's important for children to avoid responding to bullies, as engaging can escalate the situation. Instead, they should save any evidence of bullying (such as screenshots) and seek support from parents, teachers or trusted adults.

Twickenham School

Percy Road

Twickenham

TW2 6JW


0208 894 4503

Twickenham School
Twickenham is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters