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Right Choice

"Polite" Primary school cyberbullying campaign

Thursday 15th October 2015

Wiltshire Police are running an extended campaign around Cyber Crime and Cyber-bullying.

In term 2, (2nd November 2015 onwards) every Primary School in Wiltshire and Swindon will be offered the opportunity to invite their local Neighbourhood Policing Team into the School to deliver a specially adapted lesson based on Cyber-Bullying. The lesson is aimed at Years 5/6.

The intended learning outcomes are:

  • For the students to define cyberbullying
  • To identify what makes good friends and positive friendships
  • To identify cyberbullying and its consequences
  • To suggest ways young people can behave positively in cyberspace using the POLITE mnemonic
  • To promote active participation, communication and group discussion

Wiltshire Police aim to educate young people about how thoughtless use of language can easily upset or cause distress to others, and to remind them that even if they can’t see someone, things they write might still upset them.

We want them to consider using the POLITE mnemonic before they press ‘send’:

P –     Prepare – think about the content of the message and whether it could be misunderstood

O -     Only send when you have re-read and checked the content

L -      Look again – could your message upset anyone?

I -       I would be happy to receive this message – that’s a good thing!

T -      Talk face to face – sometimes it may be easier to say what you mean

E -      Expect a nice reply – we all want to receive nice messages and comments

The lesson will be supported by posters for the school and book marks for every student.

All schools in Wiltshire and Swindon have been sent an ‘Expression of Interest’ form which should be returned to: youth@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk

This email can also be used for any queries.

More about the work of Wiltshire Police supporting PSHE can be found here

Local guidance for Wiltshire schools on developing anti-bullying and online safety policies can be found here