Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that teaching staff receive training on how to recognise and deal with bullying from when it begins.

The Government is clear that there is no place for bullying in schools and no child should suffer the unnecessary stress caused by it. Teachers play a critical role in tackling bullying and ensuring the safety of their pupils. Providers of initial teacher training, head teachers and teachers themselves are best placed to determine the types of training and development that will help teachers to meet these standards, including any appropriate training required to identify and eradicate bullying. The Teachers’ Standards require teachers to “establish a safe and stimulating environment for students, rooted in mutual respect”.

We are also providing around £4 million to anti-bullying organisations which covers training for teachers to help them prevent and tackle bullying. In addition, in conjunction with the Government Equalities Office, we are currently considering bids for a £2 million fund to support schools to tackle homophobic bullying; as well as a £25 million voluntary and community sector grant programme which covers work to combat bullying. We have also produced guidance to help schools prevent bullying and support children who are being bullied which is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying