Summary of the parents’ evening: Working together against bullying

Bullying is a complex and serious issue that schools cannot solve on their own. Three anti‑bullying projects organised a joint parents’ evening on 20 January 2026, giving parents the opportunity to share their views on how bullying can be prevented and addressed.

– Solutions to this difficult issue can be found when schools and families work more closely together as partners, sharing the same principles, says Project manager Tiina Piispanen from the Tampere City Region’s Towards a safe school project.

Around 70 people took part in the dialogical parents’ evening. In addition to parents and guardians, participants included school staff as well as representatives from parent associations, organisations and the Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county.

– The antibullying discussion event was a great success. The atmosphere was constructive and respectful. It was moving to hear how strongly parents emphasised their own responsibility in creating a safe school day and in anti‑bullying efforts, says Project specialist Jenny Saksola from the Finnish Parents’ League, summing up the spirit of the evening.

Openness, respect and a sense of community help prevent bullying

The discussion from the parents’ evening was summarised into a joint statement outlining what effective cooperation between home and school can look like in preventing bullying. One parent who took part in the event put it well:  

– A safe school day begins at home, where children learn to respect others and to approach differences with understanding and appreciation.

Parents also have a responsibility to take part in events organised by the school, where they can meet other parents and, for example, agree on shared anti-bullying practices. The school, for its part, must ensure that pupils, parents and staff all know how to act in situations involving bullying.

Attitudes towards pupils and towards bullying itself also matter.

– Every child should be met with warmth during the school day, as these encounters build a sense of safety. When a child feels safe, they are more likely to speak up about bullying. If a child reports bullying, the situation must be taken seriously and addressed without delay, says Project worker Niina Mäkilä-Koskinen from the Bullying‑free South Pirkanmaa project.

When bullying occurs, parents expect communication from the school to be fair, open, prompt and firm. Families should be included in resolving the situation, with everyone committing to constructive cooperation despite the emotional nature of the issue. After the situation has been addressed, follow-up is essential to ensure that the bullying does not continue.

Output and online visualisation

More detailed results from the parents’ evening can be found on the websites of the Finnish Parents’ League and Osake, Tampere City Region Competence and Collaboration Development Service for Education. The page also includes an illustration by Satu Cozens, visualising the key points of the discussion.

– The statement produced from the parents’ evening discussion will serve as a basis for developing new ways to strengthen cooperation between homes and schools. The message will also be shared with all schools and parent associations involved in the projects, say the experts working on anti-bullying initiatives.