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<p>The government has sent a clear message that bullying should never be tolerated,
and we are committed to supporting schools to tackle it. All schools are legally required
to have a <br> behaviour policy with measures to prevent all forms of bullying, and
have the freedom to develop their own anti-bullying strategies and monitoring approaches
to best suit their environment. The department provides advice for schools, which
outlines schools’ responsibilities. The advice makes clear that schools should make
appropriate provision for a bullied child's social, emotional and mental health needs.
It is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying</a>.</p><p>We
have published a research report which details common strategies that specific schools
have found to be effective for combating bullying, including case studies with examples
about actions schools have taken to improve preventative practices and support for
LGBT pupils. It is available here: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/approaches-to-preventing-and-tackling-bullying"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/approaches-to-preventing-and-tackling-bullying.</a></p><p>We
have also published ‘Respectful School Communities’, a self-review and signposting
tool to support schools to develop a whole-school approach which promotes respect
and discipline. This can combat bullying, harassment and prejudice of any kind, including
hate-based bullying. It is available here: <a href="https://educateagainsthate.com/school-leaders/?filter=guidance-and-training-school-leaders"
target="_blank">https://educateagainsthate.com/school-leaders/?filter=guidance-and-training-school-leaders</a>.</p><p>On
7 June, we announced more than £750,000 for the Diana Award, the Anti-Bullying Alliance
and the Anne Frank Trust - to help hundreds of schools and colleges build relationships
between pupils, boost their resilience, and continue to tackle bullying both in person
and online. This includes projects targeting bullying of particular groups, such as
those with SEND, those who are victims of hate related bullying and those pupils who
identify as LGBT.</p><p>We are also making sure that all children in England will
learn about respectful relationships, in person and online, as part of new mandatory
Relationships, Sex and Health Education. This includes content on the different types
of bullying, the impact it has, the responsibility of bystanders, and how to get help.</p><p>We
are investing £10 million through behaviour hubs. Schools with exemplary positive
behaviour cultures can work closely with schools that want to turn around their behaviour,
alongside a central offer of support and a taskforce of advisers. The aim is to improve
their culture, and spread good practice across the country. The first hubs are planned
to launch in spring 2021, and will run for an initial period of 3 years.</p><p>The
Government Equalities Office invested £4 million over 4 years, from 2016, to support
schools in preventing and addressing homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying,
reaching 2250 schools in England. This funding concluded in March 2020, and the Department
for Education is currently evaluating next steps, as the department responsible for
anti-bullying in schools. The department will confirm what funding is available for
the financial year 2021-22, in light of the Spending Review outcome. We will also
consider what more the department can do to ensure that schools have the right support
to prevent bullying of pupils with protected characteristics.</p><p> </p>
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