Preston South Primary School

student wellbeing and engagement policy

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Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all students and members of our school community understand:

(a) our commitment to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for students

(b) expectations for positive student behaviour

(d) our school’s policies and procedures for responding to inappropriate student behaviour.

Preston South Primary School is committed to providing a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment for all students. We understand that students reach their full potential only when they are happy, healthy and safe, and that a positive school culture, where student participation is encouraged and valued, helps to engage students and support them in their learning. Our school acknowledges that student wellbeing and student learning outcomes are closely linked.

The objective of this policy is to support our school to create and maintain a safe, supportive and inclusive school environment consistent with our school’s values.

Scope

This policy applies to all school activities, including camps and excursions.

Contents

1. School profile

2. School values, philosophy and vision

3. Wellbeing and engagement strategies

4. Identifying students in need of support

5. Student rights and responsibilities

6. Student behavioural expectations and management

7. Engaging with families

8. Evaluation

Policy

1. School profile

Preston South Primary School was established in 1866 and is located in the northwest region of Melbourne. We have 325 students enrolled from Prep to Grade 6 and 32 school staff members.

Our school grounds back onto a local reserve and we are surrounded by a supportive community. Most students that attend our school live locally and tend to walk or ride their bike to school. Preston South Primary School has developed close ties to the local community and enjoys support from our local shops and community services.

Our school is culturally diverse with 22 language backgrounds other than English (LOTE) being spoken by students and their families. The school also has strong representation from the First Nations community. We are proud of our diversity and inclusive school community.

We strive to provide a nurturing and challenging environment that empowers students to reach their personal best, both academically and socially.

2. School values, philosophy and vision

Preston South Primary School’s Statement of Values and School Philosophy is integral to the work that we do and is the foundation of our school community. Students, staff and members of our school community are encouraged to live and demonstrate our core values of respect, integrity and kindness at every opportunity.

Preston South Primary School’s vision is to encourage the development of the whole student. Our

school empowers all students to embrace learning, achieve their personal best and build their

emotional, social and physical well-being. We pride ourselves in a vibrant learning environment that

nurtures partnerships and diversity.

Our Statement of Values is available online at: https://prestonsouthps.vic.edu.au/school-values

3. Wellbeing and engagement strategies

Preston South Primary School has developed a range of strategies to promote engagement, an inclusive and safe environment, positive behaviour and respectful relationships for all students in our school. We recognise the importance of student friendships and peer support in helping children and students feel safe and less isolated We acknowledge that some students may need extra social, emotional or educational support at school, and that the needs of students will change over time as they grow and learn.

A summary of the universal (whole of school), targeted (year group specific) and individual engagement strategies used by our school is included below:

Universal

high and consistent expectations of all staff, students and parents and carers
prioritise positive relationships between staff and students, recognising the fundamental role this plays in building and sustaining student wellbeing
creating a culture that is inclusive, engaging and supportive and that embraces and celebrates diversity and empowers all students to participate and feel valued
welcoming all parents/carers and being responsive to them as partners in learning
analysing and being responsive to a range of school data such as attendance, Attitudes to School Survey, parent survey data, student management data and school level assessment data
teachers at Preston South Primary School adopt a broad range of teaching and assessment approaches to effectively respond to the diverse learning styles, strengths and needs of our students and follow the standards set by the Victorian Institute of Teaching
our school’s Statement of Values and School Philosophy are incorporated into our curriculum and promoted to students, staff and parents so that they are shared and celebrated as the foundation of our school community
carefully planned transition programs to support students moving into different stages of their schooling
positive behaviour and student achievement is acknowledged in the classroom, and formally in school assemblies and communication to parents
monitor student attendance and implement attendance improvement strategies
students have the opportunity to contribute to and provide feedback on decisions about school operations and are encouraged to speak with their teachers, Year Level Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Principal whenever they have any questions or concerns.
create opportunities for cross—age connections amongst students through school performances, athletics, music programs and peer support programs
all students are welcome to self-refer to the Wellbeing team, Assistant Principal and Principal if they would like to discuss a particular issue or feel as though they may need support of any kind. We are proud to have an ‘open door’ policy where students and staff are partners in learning
we engage in school wide positive behaviour support with our staff and students, which includes programs such as: Respectful Relationships, Bully Zero and Safe Schools
programs, incursions and excursions developed to address issue specific needs or behaviour
buddy programs/ peers support programs
measures are in place to empower our school community to identify, report and address inappropriate and harmful behaviours such as racism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination or harassment.

Targeted

each year group has a Year Group Leader/Coordinator, a senior teacher responsible for their year, who monitor the health and wellbeing of students in their year, and act as a point of contact for students who may need additional support
First Nations students are supported to engage fully in their education, in a positive learning environment that understands and appreciates the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
our English as a second language students are supported through our EAL program, and all cultural and linguistically diverse students are supported to feel safe and included in our school
we provide a positive and respectful learning environment for our students who identify as LGBTIQ+ and follow the Department’s policy on LGBTIQ Student Support
all students in Out of Home Care are supported in accordance with the Department’s policy on Supporting Students in Out-of-Home Care including being appointed a Learning Mentor, having an Individual Learning Plan and a Student Support Group (SSG) and being referred to Student Support Services for an Educational Needs Assessment
students with a disability are supported to be able to engage fully in their learning and school activities in accordance with the Department’s policy on Students with Disability, such as through reasonable adjustments to support access to learning programs, consultation with families and where required, student support groups and individual education plans
staff will apply a trauma-informed approach to working with students who have experienced trauma
students enrolled under the Department’s international student program are supported in accordance with our legal obligations and Department policy and guidelines at: International Student Program

Individual

Preston South Primary School implements a range of strategies that support and promote individual engagement. These can include:

building constructive relationships with students at risk or students who are vulnerable due to complex individual circumstances
meeting with student and their parent/carer to talk about how best to help the student engage with school
developing an Individual Learning Plan and/or a Behaviour Support Plan
considering if any environmental changes need to be made, for example changing the classroom set up
referring the student to: school-based wellbeing supports , Student Support Services, Appropriate external supports, Re-engagement programs such as Navigator

Where necessary the school will support the student’s family to engage by:

being responsive and sensitive to changes in the student’s circumstances and health and wellbeing
collaborating, where appropriate and with the support of the student and their family, with any external allied health professionals, services or agencies that are supporting the student
monitoring individual student attendance and developing an Attendance Improvement Plans in collaboration with the student and their family
engaging with our regional Koorie Engagement Support Officers
running regular Student Support Group meetings for all students: with a disability, in Out of Home Care or with other complex needs that require ongoing support and monitoring.

4. Identifying students in need of support

Preston South Primary School is committed to providing the necessary support to ensure our students are supported intellectually, emotionally and socially. The Student Wellbeing team plays a significant role in developing and implementing strategies help identify students in need of support and enhance student wellbeing. Preston South Primary School will utilise the following information and tools to identify students in need of extra emotional, social or educational support:

personal, health and learning information gathered upon enrolment and while the student is enrolled
attendance records
academic performance
observations by school staff such as changes in engagement, behaviour, self-care, social connectedness and motivation
attendance, detention and suspension data
engagement with families
referrals from peers

5. Student rights and responsibilities

All members of our school community have a right to experience a safe and supportive school environment. We expect that all students, staff, parents and carers treat each other with respect and dignity. Our school’s Statement of Values highlights the rights and responsibilities of members of our community.

Students have the right to:

participate fully in their education
feel safe, secure and happy at school
learn in an environment free from bullying, harassment, violence, racism, discrimination or intimidation
express their ideas, feelings and concerns.

Students have the responsibility to:

participate fully in their educational program
display positive behaviours that demonstrate respect for themselves, their peers, their teachers and members of the school community
respect the right of others to learn.

Students who may have a complaint or concern about something that has happened at school are encouraged to speak to their parents or carers and approach a trusted teacher or a member of the school leadership team. Further information about raising a complaint or concern is available in our Complaints Policy.

6. Student behavioural expectations and management

Behavioural expectations of students are grounded in our school’s Statement of Values, Student code of conduct and PSPS Expectations Matrix. Violence, bullying, and other offensive and harmful behaviours such as racism, harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated and will be managed in accordance with this policy. Bullying will be managed in accordance with our Bullying Prevention Policy.

When a student acts in breach of the behaviour standards of our school community, Preston South Primary School will institute a staged response, consistent with the Department’s policies on behaviour, discipline and student wellbeing and engagement. Where appropriate, parents will be informed about the inappropriate behaviour and the disciplinary action taken by teachers and other school staff. Our school considers, explores and implement positive and non-punitive interventions to support student behaviour before considering disciplinary measures such as detention, withdrawal of privileges or withdrawal from class.

Disciplinary measures may be used as part of a staged response to inappropriate behaviour in combination with other engagement and support strategies to ensure that factors that may have contributed to the student’s behaviour are identified and addressed. Disciplinary measures at our school will be applied fairly and consistently. Students will always be provided with an opportunity to be heard.

Disciplinary measures that may be applied include:

warning a student that their behaviour is inappropriate
teacher controlled consequences such as moving a student in a classroom or other reasonable and proportionate responses to misbehaviour
withdrawal of privileges
referral to the Year Level Coordinator
restorative practices
behaviour support and intervention meetings
suspension
expulsion

Suspension, expulsion and restrictive interventions are measures of last resort and may only be used in situations consistent with Department policy, available at:

· https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/suspensions/policy

· https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/expulsions/policy

· https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/restraint-seclusion/policy

In line with Ministerial Order 1125, no student aged 8 or younger will be expelled without the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Education and Training. The Principal of Preston South Primary School is responsible for ensuring all suspensions and expulsions are recorded on CASES21.

Corporal punishment is prohibited by law and will not be used in any circumstance at our school.

7. Engaging with families

Preston South Primary School values the input of parents and carers, and we will strive to support families to engage in their child’s learning and build their capacity as active learners. We aim to be partners in learning with parents and carers in our school community.

We work hard to create successful partnerships with parents and carers by:

ensuring that all parents have access to our school policies and procedures, available on our school website or in hard copy at the office upon request
maintaining an open, respectful line of communication between parents and staff
providing parent volunteer opportunities so that families can contribute to school activities
involving families with homework and other curriculum-related activities
involving families in school decision making
coordinating resources and services from the community for families
including families in Student Support Groups and developing individual plans for students

8. Evaluation

Preston South Primary School will collect data each year to understand the frequency and types of wellbeing issues that are experienced by our students so that we can measure the success or otherwise of our school based strategies and identify emerging trends or needs.

Sources of data that will be assessed on an annual basis include:

student survey data
incidents data
school reports
parent survey
case management
CASES21, including attendance and absence data
SOCS

Preston South Primary School will also regularly monitor available data dashboards to ensure any wellbeing or engagement issues are acted upon in a timely manner and any intervention occurs as soon as possible.

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

Available publicly on our school’s website
Included in staff induction processes
Included as annual reference in school newsletter
Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

Our school will also ensure it follows the mandatory parent/carer notification requirements with respect to suspensions and expulsions outlined in the Department’s policies at:

· Suspension process

· Expulsions - Decision

Further information and resources

The following Department of Education and Training policies are relevant to this Student Engagement and Wellbeing Policy:

· Attendance

· Student Engagement

· Child Safe Standards

· Supporting Students in Out-of-Home Care

· Students with Disability

· LGBTIQ Student Support

· Behaviour - Students

· Suspensions