Anti-Bullying Policy
What bullying means here, what we do to stop it happening, what happens when it does, and how to tell us.
The Code Zone has a behaviour code that every child agrees to, and it names bullying as one of the things nobody does here. This policy sets out what that means in practice: what bullying is, what we do to stop it happening in the first place, what happens when it does, and how to tell us.
What bullying is
We use the Anti-Bullying Alliance’s definition: “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, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online.”
One unkind comment is not bullying, and we do not treat a child as a bully for making one. It is still dealt with — it is just dealt with as what it is. Equally, we do not wait for a pattern to establish itself before acting on something that is hurting a child now.
Our safeguarding policy treats serious bullying, including cyberbullying, as a form of child-on-child abuse under Keeping Children Safe in Education. Staff must never tolerate or dismiss concerns about it, and it is never passed off as “banter”, “just having a laugh” or “part of growing up”.
Where bullying could happen here, and what we do about it
Being honest about where the risk sits is more useful than a promise that it never happens. There are three places, and each one has something specific in place.
During a session
- Clubs are groups of no more than six children, so no child has to compete to be heard and nothing happens in a corner of a room nobody is watching.
- A mentor is present for the whole hour rather than supervising from the front, and it is the same mentor every week, so they know what is normal for your child and notice when it changes.
- Mentors are trained in group management, safeguarding and supporting neurodivergent children, and are trained to recognise bullying early.
- Children can keep their camera off and type in the chat instead of speaking. A child who wants to step back from something can do it without being conspicuous.
On our platform, between sessions
- Chat and anything children share with each other happens on our own platform, and it is moderated by mentors.
- Members cannot contact each other outside session times by default. That is only opened up where both sets of parents or carers, and both children, have agreed to it.
- Children are taught not to share usernames, addresses, phone numbers or their school, and to tell an adult straight away if they are asked for any of it.
- Live club sessions are not recorded, and children are asked not to take photographs, screenshots or recordings of a session.
Outside The Code Zone
Our behaviour code applies to behaviour that takes place outside our organisation and behaviour that takes place online. If bullying between our members is happening somewhere else and we are told about it, we act on it — we do not treat it as none of our business because it did not happen in a session.
Building a club where it is less likely in the first place
Most of what stops bullying is not a rule. Children come to The Code Zone because they are interested in the same thing, and the sessions are built around that: children build their own games rather than racing through a set course, so there is no league table to be at the bottom of. At our game jams children award each other XP for their work, and the part most of them enjoy most is seeing what everybody else made. Community over competition is not a slogan — it is how the sessions are structured.
Our mentors come from different backgrounds and identities, and they talk openly with children about being open-minded, inclusive and respectful, in and outside the club. Celebrating difference is a large part of what a mentor is there for.
What happens when bullying is reported
This is the same graduated response set out in our behaviour code for children and young people. It is designed to change behaviour with support, not simply to punish it.
- A reminder. The mentor reminds the child about the behaviour code and asks them to change what they are doing, giving them the chance to think and plan how to behave differently, with support.
- A formal warning. If it continues after a reminder, or if it is more serious to begin with, the person running the session gives a formal warning, records what happened, and informs parents or carers where appropriate. They talk with the child about what happened and agree what support is needed. Further steps may follow, such as restricting a child from some activities.
- A final warning. If the support in place is not helping, a final warning is given and recorded, parents or carers are informed, and we talk with the family about other services that might support the child better.
- Child protection procedures. If a mentor becomes concerned that a child needs protection, or presents a risk of harm to other children, we follow our child protection procedures. That can include a referral to the local authority. We talk it through with the child and their parents as soon as possible, unless doing so would put the child in danger or interfere with a police investigation.
We will always inform and involve parents or carers when a child receives a warning about their behaviour, unless doing so would put that child in danger.
If your child is being bullied
Tell us. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need to have worked out whether it meets a definition.
- Tell the mentor during or after the session — often the fastest route, because they are with the group every week.
- Or email dsl@thecodezone.co.uk, or call 0333 090 5697 and ask for the designated safeguarding lead.
Anything raised goes to the designated safeguarding lead. We will come back to you rather than leaving you wondering what happened. Your child does not have to describe it to a stranger, and they do not have to speak at all if they would rather write it down.
Children are told, in their own behaviour code, to talk to their mentor about anything that worries or concerns them. That includes something happening to somebody else.
If your child is the one bullying
A child who bullies usually needs something, and our first response is to work out what. The steps above are built to give a child the chance to change with support, and to keep their parents in the conversation while it happens. We will tell you what happened and what we have agreed with your child, and we will be straight with you about where it goes next if the behaviour continues.
Related policies
- Safeguarding policy
- Behaviour code for children and young people
- Behaviour code for adults working with children
- Online safety policy
- Online safety agreement for young people
- Complaints policy
Further support
The Anti-Bullying Alliance publishes advice for parents and carers, and the NSPCC Helpline is 0808 800 5000.
Contact
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Name: Mary Duhig
Email: dsl@thecodezone.co.uk
Phone: 0333 090 5697
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Name: Alice Ifill
Email: dsl@thecodezone.co.uk
Phone: 0333 090 5697
We review this policy annually alongside our safeguarding policy.
