Disability discrimination

Schools must be committed to creating an environment where staff do not suffer discrimination, harassment or bullying. Preventing harassment or bullying and dealing effectively with complaints of such are important management tasks.

The terms harassment and bullying refer to a wide range of actions. Harassment and bullying can cause considerable stress and damage to health and confidence in those experiencing it as well as having a negative impact on work performance.

Disability discrimination includes any unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a nature that exploits or emphasises a person’s disability.

For further information on misconduct procedure, please refer to the harassment and bullying guidelines (word) in the personnel handbook (you will need a username and password to open the document). The guidelines include advice for managers and headteachers on different approaches to dealing with such incidents.