UWS Government Publications Blog

“The emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people is at the heart of achieving the outcomes that our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed; become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens; and have improved life chances where they are more at risk. The eight indicators of wellbeing in children and young people are that they are safe, included, responsible, respected, active, nurtured, achieving, and healthy. Bullying behaviour can have a negative impact on all those indicators.

Everyone involved in children and young people’s lives has a contribution to make to prevent and deal with bullying behaviour. Whether in central or local government, children’s services, schools, voluntary services, youth and community groups such as the scouts and girl guides, local junior football teams, dancing classes; or within families and local communities, we have the potential to make a positive impact on the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people, now and in their adult lives, through effective anti-bullying approaches.

The purpose of this national approach is to communicate and promote a common vision and aims; and to make sure that work across all agencies and communities is consistently and coherently contributing to a holistic approach to anti-bullying in Scotland. This approach includes:

• a definition of bullying
• vision for anti-bullying in Scotland
• aims
• children’s rights and legal framework
• national policy framework
• principles
• policy development and implementation
• strategies to prevent and tackle bullying – roles and responsibilities of statutory organisations
• further guidance and information on roles, contributions, training, support and resources”