Anti-Bullying Week 2026: School and Family Resources, Activities and Safeguarding Integration
A comprehensive school-ready guide for Anti-Bullying Week (16–20 November 2026), including lesson activity ideas, assembly frameworks, parent communication templates and the latest bullying prevalence data from the Diana Award and DfE.
The data: The Diana Award's National Bullying Survey 2024 found that 50% of young people experienced bullying in the past year. Of those bullied, 46% reported being bullied online. DfE data shows 20% of pupils in Year 5 to Year 8 report being bullied — rising to 29% for pupils with SEND.
Why Anti-Bullying Week Matters for Safeguarding
Anti-Bullying Week is not just a pastoral activity — it sits squarely within the safeguarding framework. Under KCSIE 2024, schools must have an anti-bullying policy, and bullying that rises to the level of harassment, discrimination or criminal behaviour must be treated as a safeguarding concern and may require referral. When bullying involves protected characteristics (race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion) it becomes a hate incident and may require a different response pathway.
Types of Bullying — Understanding the Modern Landscape
- Physical bullying: Hitting, kicking, pushing or theft/damage of property. The most visible form but often not the most prevalent.
- Verbal bullying: Name-calling, teasing, threats, homophobic or racist language.
- Social/relational bullying: Exclusion, spreading rumours, manipulating relationships — often the hardest form to prove and one of the most damaging.
- Cyberbullying: Online harassment, sharing of images without consent (which may constitute a criminal offence under the Online Safety Act 2023), pile-on behaviour on social media.
- Prejudice-based bullying: Targeting based on protected characteristics — race, religion, disability, gender reassignment, sexual orientation.
Anti-Bullying Week 2026: School Activity Framework
Monday: Odd Socks Day
Wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique. Use as a starting point for circle time discussions on difference and belonging. EYFS: "What makes you special?" Primary: "How do we celebrate differences in our class?"
Tuesday: Empathy Assembly
Whole-school assembly on what it feels like to be bullied. Use age-appropriate video resources from the Diana Award or Childline. Introduce the school's reporting route (e.g. worry box, Tell an Adult app).
Wednesday: Online Safety Focus
PSHE lesson on cyberbullying — what it is, what to do if it happens, how to report. Key message: screenshot and block, never retaliate. Point pupils to Childline (0800 1111) and the CEOP button.
Thursday: Bystander Training
Focus on the bystander effect. Use role play to explore safe ways to intervene or report. Research shows bystander intervention is one of the most effective anti-bullying strategies — empower pupils to be "upstanders."
Parent Communication: What to Send Home
A short letter or text message to parents during Anti-Bullying Week should include:
- What the school is doing during the week and why
- How parents can reinforce the messages at home
- The school's anti-bullying policy and how to report concerns
- Key contacts: class teacher, pastoral lead, DSL
- External support signposting: Childline (0800 1111), Family Lives (0808 800 2222)
When Bullying Becomes a Safeguarding Concern
Under KCSIE 2024, bullying must be treated as a safeguarding matter when it:
- Causes or risks significant harm to a child
- Involves criminal behaviour (assault, harassment, threats to kill)
- Involves the sharing of sexual images of a child
- Is motivated by a protected characteristic and constitutes a hate crime
- Is perpetrated by a member of staff (which requires different statutory procedures)
In these cases, follow your normal safeguarding referral pathway. Do not treat it as a "behaviour issue" — log it, refer it, and ensure the DSL is involved.
Sources: Diana Award (2024). National Bullying Survey 2024. diana-award.org.uk. | DfE (2023). Preventing and tackling bullying: Advice for headteachers, staff and governing bodies. gov.uk. | DfE (2024). Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024. gov.uk. | Anti-Bullying Alliance (2025). Anti-Bullying Week 2026 resources. anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk. | Online Safety Act 2023. | Childline (2024). Bullying statistics. childline.org.uk.