Local Authority delegates from across the West Midlands region heard Teresa Clark from the DfES and Robin Richardson, author of the web-based resource, introduce the key aspects of the guidance.

Peter Wild, Head of the Behaviour Support Service, Birmingham, considered how this guidance could be cultivated in the context of Every Child Matters and the creation of Children’s Services. Participants engaged in a series of small group discussions about issues relating to different types of racist bullying, using a “jigsaw” training activity included in the pack. This was followed by discussion and questions for the panel.

Relevant resources and local information were displayed at the launch by the Jackie Mason from the Children’s Library, Alison Gove-Humphries from the Ethnic Minority Support Unit and Sue Ball from Birmingham’s Stop Bullying Project.

The Advice is the first in a suite of specialist guidance in countering prejudice-driven bullying in schools. It can be found on the Teachernet web site.

This advice is designed for schools to dip in and out of as appropriate and offers discussion topics and activities to stimulate debate and spark activity involving everyone in the school community.

Some quotes from the children, young people, headteachers, staff, community and voluntary sector organisations, professional associations and local authority officers consulted:

"Tackling bullying has two aspects: intervention on the one hand and prevention on the other. The first aspect frequently seems more urgent – something has happened, a pupil is distressed , immediate action by the school is required. It is only later, staff may feel, that there will be time to put in place an overall preventative framework. However, it is much easier to respond and intervene effectively, when an incident occurs, if a framework is already in place."

"Racism is wrong and affects a lot of people. We want you to know how it feels to be told a racist comment and how we feel about bullying. Racists hurt the person, but they don’t know how much inside."

"I don’t think they know how hard it is when you are being called names every day and getting abused."