School-wide positive behaviour support framework

School-wide positive behaviour support (SWPBS) is a framework that brings together school communities to develop positive, safe, supportive learning cultures. SWPBS assists schools to improve social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes for children and young people.

When SWPBS is implemented well, teachers and students have more time to focus on relationships and classroom instruction. Students and staff benefit from:
• increased respectful and positive behaviour
• increased time focused on instruction
• improved social-emotional wellbeing
• positive and respectful relationships among students and staff
• increased adoption of evidence-based instructional practices
• a predictable learning environment with improved perceptions of safety and increased attendance.
At YGPS, SWPBS supports our school to identify and successfully implement evidence-based whole-school practices to enhance learning outcomes for our students.

Key features of SWPBS

Implementation of SWPBS requires commitment by the whole school community, particularly from the principal and leadership group. All SWPBS schools implement 8 essential features. They will:
• Establish a common philosophy and purpose
• Establish leadership and school-wide support
• Clearly define a set of expected behaviours
• Establish procedures for teaching and practising expected behaviours
• Implement a continuum of procedures to encourage expected behaviours
• Develop a continuum of procedures to discourage inappropriate behaviour: Schools clearly define problem behaviours and identify specific strategies and responses to minor and major behavioural infractions.
• Use procedures for record-keeping, decision making and ongoing monitoring:
• Support staff to use effective classroom practices

Multi-tiered systems of support

SWPBS uses a tiered intervention framework which invests in:
• primary prevention (tier 1): supports for all students, staff and settings
• secondary prevention (tier 2): additional specialised group systems for students with at-risk behaviour
• tertiary prevention (tier 3): specialised, individualised systems for students with high-risk behaviour, provided in addition to primary and secondary prevention.