WHAT IS THE SCHOOL WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT (PBS) APPROACH?
Sunshine Primary School follows the PBS approach. This is a whole school approach to creating an environment, which encourages effective learning through the development of a positive, calm and welcoming atmosphere. We encourage positive feedback to students often and endeavour to teach students how to behave appropriately. We recognise that learning social skills and socially acceptable behaviours is a process, which everybody moves through at a different pace. Learning appropriate social skills is seen in the same light as learning how to read or complete maths. Some people need more assistance in some areas and less in others.
WHY PBS?
In the past, discipline has focused mainly on reacting to specific student misbehaviour by implementing punishment-based strategies e.g. reprimands, loss of privileges, suspensions and expulsions. Research has shown that the implementation of punishment and in the absence of other positive strategies is ineffective. Introducing, modelling, and reinforcing positive social behaviours is an important step of a students educational experience. Teaching behavioural expectations and rewarding students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehaviour to occur before responding.
BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATION MATRIX
A matrix has been developed for teachers and students to identify the expected behaviours at Sunshine Primary School. The matrix includes appropriate behaviours in specific areas including:
These behaviours are displayed around the school and discussed regularly with the students at Sunshine Primary School.
The Matrix
REWARD SYSTEMS
Teachers reward and recognise students who display our school values in a variety of ways. Each teacher designs and implements a positive reward system in their classroom, which is appropriate for the context of the class they teach. Rewards may include:
REWARD TOKENS - WHAT ARE THEY?
The reward tokens are a vital aspect of our whole school Positive Behaviour Support.
How does a student receive a reward token ?
Teachers and staff hand out tokens in the school yard when students have positively displayed our school values. We like to call it “catching them out”. This could be as simple as using their manners to helping another student when in distress.
The tokens are a form of acknowledgement, a simple and instant way to acknowledge the positive behaviour displayed by a student. Students who receive tokens go into a raffle each week to win a prize at Assembly each Friday.
