Unfortunately, school is still the place where children are bullied most often. This is not surprising: after all, it is the main place where children come together with their peers. School is therefore an important place to practise: a mini-society where students actively practise the skills they need to participate successfully in society. Students who are discriminated against seem to be excluded in advance from taking part in this practice society.

This study also shows that talking about it helps students who are bullied. As an education professional, there are several things you can do to help students who are bullied or discriminated against, such as:

  • Make sure that children at your school always know whom they can turn to.
  • Take a clear stand against bullying and discrimination.
  • Refer students to our website Pestweb.

On the themed pages of School & Veiligheid and in the knowledge base articles, School & Veiligheid pays extensive attention to these and many other tips.

Anti-Bullying Week: start with a positive standard

The beginning of the school year has the greatest impact on the atmosphere in the group. We do not call the first weeks the Golden Weeks for nothing. Once norms have become established as ‘unwritten rules’, they are difficult to influence afterwards. That is why it is important to devote considerable attention to a positive and inclusive group culture during this initial period.

That is precisely why School & Veiligheid organises Anti-Bullying Week at the beginning of the school year. This year it will take place from 26 to 30 September, with the theme Just a joke! Surely that’s allowed?! Join in too: visit the Anti-Bullying Week website for more information, free posters, teaching materials and inspiring lectures.

Develop a school-wide vision of social safety

For many schools, it is obvious that bullying and discrimination are not acceptable, but this must also be embedded in the way people treat one another. School & Veiligheid emphasises the importance of a coherent approach in which discrimination receives no less attention than bullying. School & Veiligheid appreciates all the teachers who manage to inspire confidence in their students so that they share their experiences with them. At the same time, this appears to be much less often the case when it comes to discrimination. A shared attitude and approach provides a clear message to all students and parents: namely, that the school does not tolerate bullying or discrimination. This lowers the threshold for students and their parents to report experiences of bullying and discrimination. To this end, School & Veiligheid and Kennisplatform Inclusief Samenleven developed a step-by-step plan to combat discrimination for primary education.

More information or would you like to talk?

Do you have questions about bullying at school? Or another question about social safety? Then you can contact the School & Veiligheid helpdesk for information and advice.

The report by the Children’s Ombudsman, Bullied in Loneliness. Children about their experiences with bullying and the (lack of) help with bullying.