Bullying Stops With Us PSHE lesson plan
A primary PSHE lesson for Years 1 and 2 that helps UK teachers introduce kindness, inclusion and safe responses to hurtful behaviour through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Pupils learn to recognise when someone is being left out or treated unkindly, understand why including others matters, and practise simple, safe ways to respond or ask a trusted adult for help.
Healthy Relationships & Communication
Snapshot
Bullying Stops With Us
This lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce kindness, inclusion and safe responses to hurtful behaviour with young pupils.
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Including everyone with kindness and recognising hurtful behaviour
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What pupils will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise when someone is being left out or treated unkindly
recognise that hurtful behaviour can happen through actions, words or exclusion
recognise when a situation should be shared with a trusted adult
Understand
understand why including everyone helps people feel safe and valued
understand that hurtful behaviour can affect how someone feels, even if it happens once
Practise
practise simple, kind phrases for including others
practise safe ways to respond when they see or experience unkind behaviour
practise identifying a trusted adult they can ask for help
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for early primary pupils in Years 1 and 2 who are beginning to learn about kindness, inclusion and how to respond safely to hurtful behaviour.
It is suitable for:
primary PSHE lessons
relationships education
pastoral care, circle time or form time
class culture and kindness expectation work
early respectful relationships learning
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, pupil maturity, cohort needs, classroom culture, existing discussion norms and available support pathways.
Best used when
Use this lesson when students need clear, practical language for recognising unkind behaviour and knowing what to do next.
Introducing kindness and inclusion Use when pupils are learning early language for including others and noticing when someone is left out.
Building classroom culture Use when reinforcing expectations around kindness, respect and inclusion in daily classroom life.
Reinforcing respectful friendships Use when pupils need a refresher on including others and using kind words with classmates.
Practising safe responses Use when pupils are learning simple, safe ways to respond to unkind behaviour without confrontation.
Building help-seeking confidence Use when pupils need support understanding when and how to ask a trusted adult for help.
Preparing for transition Use when new friendship groups are forming and pupils need clear expectations about kindness and inclusion.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Young pupils need simple, practical language for including others and recognising when behaviour feels unkind, well before more complex bullying concepts are introduced. Bullying Stops With Us focuses on building this early foundation. It helps pupils understand that kindness is something they can practise every day, not just something that happens when a situation goes wrong. This lesson supports a classroom culture where pupils notice when someone needs including, use safe and respectful responses, and know that trusted adults are there to help when something does not feel right.
How this lesson supports wellbeing
This lesson supports student wellbeing by building practical social and emotional skills students can use in everyday school life. It helps students develop:
Capability How the lesson supports it
Social awareness Pupils notice when someone is left out or treated unkindly.
Empathy Pupils consider how it feels to be excluded or spoken to unkindly.
Inclusion Pupils practise simple ways to invite others to join in.
Communication Pupils use kind, clear words in everyday classroom situations.
Help-seeking Pupils learn when and how to ask a trusted adult for support.
Belonging Pupils reinforce that everyone deserves to feel included and safe.
For teachers and school leaders, the lesson contributes to broader wellbeing, respectful relationships, child safety and pastoral care goals in Australian primary schools.
Teaching notes & Delivery Considerations
This lesson includes content about unkind behaviour, exclusion and asking adults for help. It should be taught with calm, clear discussion norms.
Before teaching
Remind pupils not to name classmates or share stories about other people
Frame the discussion around general examples and scenarios, not personal accusations
Make clear that the lesson is about learning kind choices, not blaming anyone
Identify trusted adults pupils can speak to at school
Be prepared to follow your school's safeguarding procedures and speak with the designated safeguarding lead if a pupil discloses harm or says they feel unsafe.
During delivery
Use simple examples such as left out of a game or spoken to unkindly
Give pupils time to practise kind phrases aloud
Reinforce that pupils do not need to handle unsafe situations alone
Allow pupils to respond through discussion, drawing or talking with a partner depending on confidence
Supporting safe discussion
Reinforce that asking for help is a responsible choice, not a last resort
Explain that hurtful or unsafe behaviour should always be shared with a trusted adult
Keep language age appropriate and avoid dwelling on distressing detail
Adaptation options
Use partner talk or drawing for pupils who are less confident speaking aloud
Spend more time identifying trusted adults if pupils need extra support
Extend discussion time for classes that need more space to process examples
