A school is obliged to act on every report of violence, regardless of whether it happened on school premises or online.
First steps once you know
The response is not put off until the next meeting. The first task is to stop the violence and protect the pupil, and immediately after that to document the case.
Stopping the violence and separating the pupils
Informing the parents on both sides
Recording the report in writing the same day
Bringing in the violence protection team
Assessing the level of violence and a protection plan
When other institutions are brought in
With more serious forms of violence a school does not act alone — it informs the social welfare centre, the police and the competent education authorities, according to the assessed level of violence.
Injury, a threat with a weapon, group violence — the police
Neglect and domestic violence — the social welfare centre
Intimate content involving a child — the police, without delay
Repeated violence — a protection plan and follow-up
Prevention that works
Clear rules that pupils know, a consistent response to every incident and regular work with the class do more than one talk a year.
Rules on phones and class group chats agreed with the pupils
Staff training on digital violence
A peer support team
Regular workshops with parents
What you can do now
Stop the violence and protect the pupil.
Record the report the same day.
Inform the parents and the protection team.
Assess the level of violence and bring in the institutions if needed.
Follow the case and close it with a written report.
