CompletedInterventional

Trial of anti-bullying programme KiVa-SEND

This study is testing a new anti-bullying programme called KiVa-SEND in special schools across the UK. Bullying is a big problem, especially for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), who often face higher rates of bullying because they might be seen as 'different'. Currently, there aren't many anti-bullying programmes made just for these children. This research wants to find out if KiVa-SEND is practical to use in special schools and if it could help. We'll be working with pupils and teachers aged 7 to 14, collecting information over 12 months. The results will help decide if a larger study is needed to prove how well KiVa-SEND works.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

University of Oxford

Enrolment target

480

Start

01 Oct 2024

Estimated completion

31 Mar 2025

Feasibility of implementing an anti-bullying programme in UK special schools

What is this study about?

Bullying is a serious concern for many children, and it can be even more of a problem for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Children with SEND might experience bullying more often because they can sometimes be seen as 'different' by others. Sadly, there aren't many anti-bullying programmes specifically designed for these children.

This study is looking at a new programme called KiVa-SEND, which has been adapted to be used in special schools. The main goal is to see if it's possible and practical to introduce this programme into eight special schools in the UK. This is an important first step to understand if KiVa-SEND could really make a difference for children with SEND.

Over the course of a year, some schools will use the KiVa-SEND programme, while others will continue with their usual activities. Researchers will gather information from pupils and teachers at the beginning and again 12 months later. This information will help them understand how well the programme works in a real school setting and guide whether a larger, more in-depth study should be done in the future to confirm its benefits.

Key takeaways

This study evaluates a new anti-bullying programme, KiVa-SEND.
It focuses on children with special educational needs (SEND) in UK special schools.
The main goal is to see if the programme can be easily implemented.
Children aged 7-14 and their teachers will participate.
Data will be collected via questionnaires over 12 months.
The results will inform a larger study to confirm its effectiveness.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for special schools within 50 miles of Oxford to take part. For children to be involved, they need to be attending one of these special schools and be between 7 and 14 years old when the study starts. Schools that have only just opened in the last year or are mainstream schools, not special schools, cannot take part.

Children will not be able to join if they find it very difficult to be in a classroom setting or struggle with learning new things in a lesson-style format, as the KiVa-SEND materials might not be suitable for them. Also, if parents decide they no longer want their child to be involved, or if a child joins the school after the study has already started collecting information, they won't be able to participate. It's important that all children involved are within the 7 to 14 age range at the very beginning of the study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Is my child attending a special education school?
Is our school within 50 miles of Oxford?
Is my child between 7 and 14 years old?
Can my child take part in classroom-style learning?
Has our school been open for more than a year?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If your child's school takes part, they will either be in a group that tries out the KiVa-SEND anti-bullying programme or a group that continues with their usual school activities. We will ask children and teachers to fill in some questionnaires at the start of the study and again 12 months later. The KiVa-SEND programme, for those schools using it, will be taught over one school year as part of the curriculum. There are no extra visits or medications involved. The total time a school is involved in the study is about two years, but the actual programme only runs for one school year.

Potential risks and benefits

There might not be any immediate direct benefits for individual children or schools taking part in this study. However, for schools that deliver the KiVa-SEND programme, there's a chance that bullying might be reduced, though this particular study isn't set up to measure that directly. The main benefit is that this study will help us understand if KiVa-SEND can be successfully used in special schools, which could lead to a bigger study proving its effectiveness and ultimately helping many children in the future. We don't expect many risks from taking part; completing questionnaires should be straightforward. You have the right to withdraw your child from the study at any time without giving a reason, and it won't affect their care or schooling.

Locations (1)

University of Oxford
Approximate
Oxford, England

Common questions

What is KiVa-SEND?

It's a new anti-bullying programme specifically adapted for children in special educational needs schools.

Why is this study needed?

Bullying is common for children with special educational needs, and there aren't many anti-bullying programmes made just for them.

Will my child definitely get the KiVa-SEND programme?

Not necessarily. Schools are randomly chosen to either use KiVa-SEND or continue with their normal activities for this study.

How long will the school be involved?

The study runs for about two years, with information collected at the start and 12 months later.

Who is paying for this research?

The study is funded by the Baily Thomas Charitable Fund.

How to find out more

Julia Badger

julia.badger@education.ox.ac.uk +44 (0)1865 274024 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.