CHILDREN being bullied in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale schools are being urged to speak up as part of a new campaign being launched in the county's classrooms.

Lancashire County Council's 'Keeping TABS' scheme will offer assistance to primary and secondary school staff, as well as encouraging bullied children to speak up about their plight, in what is a national problem.

TABS stands for 'The Anti-bullying School' and the initiative's mascot is a cute cat called Tabs.

The guidance is available to schools across the county to help teachers and headteachers develop their anti-bullying policies.

There are also strategies to try to prevent bullying from occurring.

It also includes supporting the bullies to explain to them why what they are doing is wrong.

A support booklet entitled 'It's OK to tell' is available to children in the last year of primary school and there is plenty of support material for parents and school staff.

Christine Hulland, the county's teacher adviser for anti-bullying, said: "Schools have their own individual policies about bullying but what we're providing is extra support.

"We're working together to help develop an anti-bullying ethos and the guidelines have been well received."

Schools are being encouraged to follow initiatives already tried in some classrooms, including Clitheroe Pendle Primary School's pupil panel.

It provides a forum for youngsters to air concerns.

Sue Mulvany, Director of Education and Cultural Services at Lancashire County Council, said: "It was wonderful to see the children so involved in the scheme.

"They really understand how their buddies and befriending schemes help reduce the fear and incidents of bullying.

"The county council is taking this initiative very seriously and we think it is imperative that headteachers and governors push the scheme forward."

County Councillor Nora Ward, Chairman of Lancashire County Council and a former teacher, said: "I think it is an excellent idea. I am very impressed by the new anti-bullying guidelines.

"They provide a good, quick reference point and suggest procedures to deal with bullying for staff.

"Bullies also need help as well as the bullied and, as we say in Lancashire, every child matters."

Headteachers have welcomed the scheme.

Burnley's Towneley High School head Sally Cryer said: "Bullying is a very high priority for all schools. Anything that can be done to stamp out bullying is welcome. Children who are not happy won't come to school and learn.

"Every school has bullies but schools have very rigid and tight bullying policies to make sure there are set principles to follow to try to eradicate bullying.

"If it's going on then we want children to speak up and tell someone. Once we know about it we can act and do something about it very quickly. The quicker we can be told things are happening the quicker we can do something about it."