SWPBS

School Wide Positive Behaviours Support (SWPBS) at Northern Bay College was developed in consultation with school staff, students and parents. We looked for a clear and specific set of School Wide Positive Behaviours (SWPB) that are pro-social and focused on prevention and early intervention. SWPBS is a whole school approach to creating an environment, which encourages effective learning through the development of a positive, calm and welcoming atmosphere.

Linking to Core Values

We endeavour to teach our students how to behave appropriately and uphold the College Core Values of Growth, Collaboration, Persistence, Kindness. We recognise that learning socially acceptable behaviours is a process, which everybody moves through at a different pace.

SWPBS consists of three steps

Step 1: Identify and Teach Expected Behaviour

There is a Matrix: with a visual display of the behavior we expect to see
We then teach the students how to behave and provide them opportunities to practice and learn.
The staff focus on the positive (expected) behaviours by reinforcing and verbally recognizing expected student behavior, rather than punishing students for not following expectations.

Step 2: Positively reinforce and recognize expected behaviour

When students meet schoolwide expectations, staff will note their success with positive reinforcement. This might include praise or a token. All staff (Principals, teachers, office etc) use the system.

Step 3: Responding to behaviour errors

In addition to teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors, the school will identify a consistent way to respond to behavior errors when it occurs. The strategies to address challenging behaviours will be shared with students, staff and parents. This will help everyone to know what behaviours violate the expectations
Traditional ways of dealing with problem behavior through punishment are not effective in changing behaviour. It is exciting to see our College adopt SWPBS, because the model approaches behaviour as a skill that needs to be developed. Parents play a crucial role in helping their children develop the positive behaviour skills that are the foundation for a successful future.

SWPBS is a planned way to meet the behavioural needs of students in a school. Parents are important in the success of SWPBS; and may choose to use a similar system at home.