Page 1229 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 April 2019
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and behaviours: greater motivation to learn, deeper commitment to school, increased time devoted to schoolwork; fewer negative behaviours: decreased disruptive class behaviour, noncompliance, aggression, delinquent acts, and disciplinary referrals; and reduced emotional distress: fewer reports of student depression, anxiety, stress, and social withdrawal.
Positive Behaviours for Learning
The Directorate is following a Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) approach to support social and emotional learning in government schools.
PBL is an internationally-adopted, evidence-based7 8 whole school approach to improve learning, behaviour and social outcomes for all students. PBL facilitates students, teachers and school communities to identify the positive behaviours and values that are expected in their school. The values and expectations are taught, reinforced and celebrated both within and outside a classroom setting. The PBL approach involves the school community working together with students, families and staff all empowered to participate in decision-making. It also involves developing school-wide consistent procedures to address negative behaviours. PBL is a structured approach, with a strong focus on data to plan areas of focus in learning, wellbeing and engagement.
PBL began in government schools at the end of 2015 with four pilot schools. The ACT Education Directorate has embraced this evidence-based approach, with 51 of 88 schools having started PBL implementation. All ACT government schools will adopt a PBL approach as the PBL continues to be rolled out across these schools. The Directorate provides support for implementation through external PBL ‘coaches’ (experts), and other training and resources as required.
The PBL approach is widely adopted, locally and internationally. Catholic systemic schools in the ACT have also established a School-Wide Positive Behaviour Learning framework. The Victorian and New South Wales governments, among others, have adopted a Positive Behaviour Support approach in their government schools. Overseas, this approach is widely used in New Zealand and the United States of America.
Safe and Supportive Schools Policy
The Education Directorate’s Safe and Supportive Schools Policy provides direction to government schools about the fundamentals of developing and maintaining safe, respectful school environments. This policy guides schools in responding to, recording and communicating incidents.
The Policy recognises that a safe culture for learning is paramount. The policy requires government schools to have processes and procedures in place to address and prevent bullying, harassment and violence. The Policy and associated procedures encourage critical evaluation of the effectiveness of social and emotional learning approaches which contribute to the development and maintenance of safe and supportive school environments. These documents also address the area of complex behaviour and the associated safety implications for school communities.
Since 2015, professional learning and resources have been developed for schools to support them to create appropriate physical environments such as sensory
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