Prejudice Based Incidents: 2025-26 reporting
Prejudice and identity-based bullying can seriously harm children and young people's mental health and wellbeing, affecting their ability to learn and flourish. Schools must manage these incidences effectively for several key reasons:
- Legal responsibility: Schools are required by law to prevent discrimination and show they are tackling it effectively.
- Safe learning environment: Addressing prejudice helps create a safer, more inclusive space where all students can thrive.
- Community cohesion: Responding quickly and having a whole school approach to inclusion sends a strong message that discrimination is not tolerated.
What are Prejudice-Based Incidents (PBIs)?
These are actions perceived to be motivated by bias against protected characteristics like race, religion, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy or age. They can affect anyone in the school community—students, their families, staff, or visitors.
What support is available to help understand, prevent, respond to and teach about prejudice-based incidents in school?
We have created a one-minute guide to PBIs and for those needing a deeper dive, a Padlet offering information and helpful signposting in an accessible format. This is part of our support to Norfolk schools which includes information, advice, guidance and the option of a bespoke support surgery from an Inclusion Adviser.
How should schools and settings record PBIs?
Schools should be recording prejudice-based incidents and actions taken, on their internal systems as part of their safeguarding procedures. We ask Norfolk schools to use this information and submit an annual report for the academic year.
Schools should complete the form, with their data from 25/26 at a convenient time before it closes on 23rd October 2026. Now is a good time to check your internal reporting is up to date so you are ready to complete the form when term ends.
We ask for minimal information; number, nature and type of incidents. No names of children are taken. The form is accessed via the My School site. The reporting form includes a nil return option; we would like all settings to complete a report even if they have not recorded any incidents.
Why is it important to complete the PBI reporting form?
Reporting will help Norfolk County Council and its partners plan better support for children, young people and their families and help promote a culture of respect, equity, and inclusion in schools.
What if I am a Norfolk school needing additional support in this area?
If, after exploring the links above, you require support around the reporting process, managing prejudice-based incidents or wider Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging from an adviser or have additional queries, please call 0333 313 7165. This phone line is open on weekdays, from 9am to 5pm.
