How to improve the school ground environment as an anti-bullying strategy

Abstract

This chapter describes how to improve school grounds as part of an anti-bullying strategy. School ground improvements should be closely linked to other interventions such as lunchtime supervisor training. With active participation of pupils an improved playground environment can have several benefits, many of which will help to influence levels of bullying. Parents often have a huge amount of skill, resources and commitment to offer playground improvement projects. Many schools struggle financially. Environmental improvements compete with other projects for limited finance and resources. Ground surfacing materials are selected using practical, financial and aesthetic criteria. Practical issues often dictate choice of surfacing materials, and whether the surface is 'hard' or 'soft'. Poor maintenance has been one of the most common problems for schools which have made changes, and has often led to complete failure of schemes, particulary ponds.