Bí Cineálta: A Guide for Parents and Guardians

The Department of Education has introduced the ‘Bí Cineálta’ (‘Be Kind’) procedures to

prevent and address bullying behaviour in primary, post-primary, and special schools across

Ireland. Developed collaboratively with education partners and informed by the insights of

students, parents, school staff, and the wider education community, these procedures aim

to foster a safe and inclusive school environment

Key Features of the Bí Cineálta Procedures:

 Whole-School Approach: Encourages collaboration among students, parents,

teachers, and all school staff to cultivate a culture where bullying is unacceptable.​

 Addressing High-Risk Areas: Identifies and mitigates where bullying is more likely to

occur.

 Enhanced Supervision: Emphasises vigilant monitoring, particularly for students who

may be more vulnerable to bullying.​

 Promoting Open Communication: Advocates for the creation and display of a

student-friendly version of the school’s Bí Cineálta policy, ensuring students are

aware of reporting procedures and the support available to them

 Follow-Up Support: Commits to checking in with students who have experienced

bullying, as well as their parents, after 20 school days to ensure the issue has been

resolved

 Annual Policy Review: Involves gathering feedback from the entire school

community, including parents, to inform the yearly evaluation of the school’s Bí

Cineálta policy. ​

 Parental Partnership: Recognises parents as key partners in both preventing and

addressing bullying behaviour. ​

 Transparent Reporting: Requires principals to provide verbal updates on bullying

incidents and the measures taken to the Board of Management during each meeting,

ensuring confidentiality by omitting personal details. ​

 Data Collection: Mandates recording each bullying incident to contribute to a

national database, facilitating the creation of an annual report on bullying behaviour

without identifying individual schools or students. ​

Cyberbullying Considerations:

With the increased use of digital devices, the procedures acknowledge the challenges of

cyberbullying. While schools are not responsible for cyberbullying incidents that occur

outside school hours, they are obligated to act when such behaviour affects the school

environment. ​

Resources for Parents:

To support parents in understanding and engaging with the Bí Cineálta procedures, a range

of resources are available. These include guidance documents, informational sessions, and

materials designed to assist in recognising and addressing bullying behaviour. These

resources can be accessed through the Department of Education’s website. ​

https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/b%c3%ad-cine%c3%a1lta-

resources-for-primary-schools-post-primary-schools-and-parents/

Your Role as a Parent or Guardian:

Stay Informed: Familiarise yourself with the school’s Bí Cineálta policy and procedures. ​

Open Dialogue: Maintain regular conversations with your child about their school

experiences and encourage them to speak openly about any concerns. ​

Collaborate with the School: Engage with teachers and school staff to address any issues

and participate in policy reviews or feedback sessions. ​

Utilise Available Resources: Access the provided materials to better understand bullying

dynamics and effective intervention strategies. ​

Scoil Shinchill and the board of management have developed its Bí Cineálta policy during the

2024/2025 school year. The Bí Cineálta policy and the procedures have been formally

adopted and implemented from the start of the 2025/2026 school year.

There is an increased focus on a partnership approach to preventing and addressing

bullying behaviour:

 We have collaborated and will continue to collaborate with the entire school

community, including our board of management, staff, students, and parents, to

implement and review our Bí Cineálta Policy.

 We have created a student-friendly version of our Bí Cineálta policy and have

displayed it in visible locations for students and the wider school community.

 The school will continue to engage with the school community to develop and

review the Bí Cinealta policy. The policy’s content has been communicated to the

school community and the patron is published on the school’s website and displayed

on a school noticeboard.

By working together, we can ensure that Scoil Shinchill remains a safe, inclusive, and a

supportive environment for all students.