This week is National Anti-Bullying Week, and Calderdale Council held a major conference for head teachers, school staff and professionals working with children and young people.
Figures show that more than half of all primary school children (58 per cent) and more than a third of all secondary school children (36 per cent) say they have been bullied.
Responding to the concerns of children, young people and parents, who say tackling bullying is a top priority, the council has developed an anti-bullying strategy. The action plan recognises that bullying doesn't just take place in schools and attempts to address concerns raised by Calderdale Youth Council, which says that children and young people need to feel safe on public transport and require well-lit and safe places to meet.
The conference gave children and young people from across Calderdale the chance to make their views heard. There were presentations and performances by students of Halifax High, Calderdale's Young Carers and by Gay and Lesbian Young in Calderdale (Galyic).
At the end of the day, delegates were invited to sign up to an anti-bullying charter.
Calderdale Council's spokesman for children and young people, Craig Whittaker, said bullying has a major impact on the lives of children and young people.
"No form of bullying should be tolerated. It can ruin lives, causing considerable distress to children and young people, affecting their health and development as well as affecting their emotional and mental health."
Sue Rumbold, head of commissioning and partnership services for children and young people, said the strategy provides a framework for the council, schools and partner organisations to work together to reduce bullying, not just in school, but wherever it may be taking place.
"By working together, all of the schools and organisations involved can tackle bullying and show that Calderdale is a place where young people can be different without the fear of bullying and intimidation."
Schools throughout the district have been holding events to highlight the anti-bullying message this week.
Blue ribbons were tied to the fence at Ling Bob Junior, Infant and Nursery School, Pellon, Halifax, to signify friendship during their anti-bullying campaign.
Children have also been learning about why bullying is bad during a special assembly where a short play and a song was performed about the subject. The school's Befrienders also baked blue-iced buns.
Janette Tynan, learning mentor, said the school has won the Princess Diana Award for Anti-Bullying three years running.
Junior entrepreneur James Buckley, of Dragon's Den fame, talked to children at Luddenden Dene Primary School about his experiences of being bullied.
The budding young business mogul, who lives at Greetland, won the dragons' approval for his Look For Loneliness campaign, based around bullying in primary schools.
He brought along his mascot, Lonely Len, to reinforce the message that children should look for loneliness in the playground.
Head teacher Simon Day said: "It made all the difference the anti-bullying message coming from a child who was brave enough to talk about his own experiences."

• Comment

There are many signs to indicate that children are being bullied including:

Changes in behaviour.

Bruises and cuts.

Complaints of headaches.

Missing possessions.

Reluctance to attend school.

Difficulty sleeping.

When you discover that your child is being bullied the most important thing for you to do is listen.

Let your son or daughter child tell you about the experience in their own words.

Let your child know that you believe what they are saying.

Take their feelings, worries and concerns seriously.

Discuss with your child any possible action that would reduce any contact with the perpetrator/s.

Make an appointment to see your child's form teacher or tutor.

If you feel dissatisfied with the response from the form teacher then:

Contact the head teacher. It may be of benefit to have read the school's anti-bullying policy.