Policy Requirements

Guiding principles

encourage schools to:

• ensure all students understand the:
  - behaviour expected of them
  - consequences of not meeting expectations
• proactively anticipate possible difficulties before they become serious
• ensure behaviour or attendance issues are handled with maximum cooperation and consultation
• emphasise whole school approaches with a focus on:
  - consistency and fairness
  - prevention
  - early intervention
  - positive reinforcement for meeting high expectations
  - student decision-making and parent involvement
  - the development of pro-social behaviours, as the most effective way to support students and engage them in their learning.
• support:
  - learning for all
  - respectful relationships and dignity
  - student learning and feedback
  - appropriate curriculum and pedagogy
  - safe and supportive whole-school cultures
  - student decision-making and parent/carer involvement
• avoid actions and consequences that isolate a student from learning.

Focus

focus on:

• creating a positive school culture that is fair and respectful
• expecting positive, supportive and respectful relationships
• encouraging students to participate and express themselves
• implementing preventative and early intervention approaches
• building a safe and supportive school environment
• proactively engaging with parents/carers
• promoting pro-social values and behaviours
• responding to individual students
• linking to the local community
• valuing diversity.

Content

A Student Engagement Policy must include the following content:

• a whole-school prevention statement
• rights and responsibilities
• school profile statement
• shared expectations
• school actions/consequences
• responsibility of the principal and school council
• expulsion appeal and review procedures.