EdSpace takes a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and is fully committed to ensuring its strategies, policies and procedures and practices meet all Child safety Standards as specified in Ministerial Order 1359

Rationale:

Positive and responsible student behaviour is essential to the smooth running of EdSpace, to the achievement of optimal learning opportunities, and to the development of a supportive and cooperative school environment.

 

Purpose of this policy

• EdSpace affirms that a culture of positive behaviour and high levels of student engagement are essential as prerequisites for student learning.
• The purpose of this policy and related policy implementation documents is to provide students, staff and parents with clarity as to the behaviour expected of students at EdSpace and the consequences when those expectations are breached.
• The behaviour management policy sets out the principles and framework governing the school’s approach to the development of positive student behaviour and engagement.

 

Principles

• The school believes that it has a responsibility, in partnership with parents, to create a culture of positive behaviour with high levels of student engagement.
• The school is committed to ensuring its behaviour management policy and procedures are fair and reasonable.
• The school prohibits corporal punishment.
• Behavioural expectations, standards and consequences are stated clearly for students, parents and staff.
• The implementation of the behaviour policy is age appropriate.
• The school will ensure that the application of its behaviour policy is fair, consistent and non-discriminatory.

 

Aims of the policy

• To support the school and its employees, parents and students in creating a culture of positive behaviour with high levels of student engagement as essential prerequisites for learning.
• To set out the school’s clear expectations in relation to positive student behaviour and in so doing to define what constitutes unacceptable behaviour.
• To set out clearly the consequences when standards of behaviour are breached.
• To comply with the requirements of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic.) to implement a behaviour management policy and procedures.

 

Legal and regulatory basis for compliance

The following documents and legislation form the basis of the EdSpace discipline policy.

• Duty of Care
• Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic.)
• Education and Training Reform Regulations (2017)
• Ministerial Order 625 (March 2014) (applies to government schools but may be used as a reference document for non-government schools)
• Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) Minimum Standards
• Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic.)
• Disability Standards for Education 2005 (Cth).

Scope

The application of the policy is relevant to the governing body, principal, school staff, students and parents.

 

Roles and responsibilities

 

• The EdSpace School Board is responsible for reviewing the behaviour management policy, although the responsibility for the detailed implementation and procedures lie with the school. The EdSpace School Board must be confident that the policy is fair and reasonable and that corporal punishment is prohibited.
• The principal is responsible for ensuring the school has behaviour management policies and procedures in compliance with the VRQA Minimum Standards.

 

            The principal is responsible for:

1. developing strategies that ensure the culture of the school is one of which positive behaviour and respectful relationships are given high priority
2. developing and implementing strategies and procedures that ensure students, staff and parents are clear as to what constitutes unacceptable behaviour and the consequences when the Code of Conduct is breached.

• The principal is responsible for ensuring procedures are in place for the reporting and monitoring of behaviour.
• The principal is responsible for ensuring staff have access to regular training in the development of positive behaviour. The principal may also wish to provide regular training and support for parents in respect to the management of behaviour.
• All staff in the school are responsible for working together in collaboration with students and parents to ensure issues of behaviour and relationships are given high priority at all times.
• All Parents are responsible for working together in collaboration with students and Staff to ensure issues of behaviour and relationships are given high priority at all times.

 

 

Implementation:

• EdSpace has a student code of conduct, which outlines agreed behavioural development and management strategies.
• Our code of conduct will place significant emphasis on the development and recognition of positive behaviours.
• All students will develop individual learning plans that include behavioural goals. Student individual academic reports will include details regarding student behavioural achievement.
• Positive student behavioural achievement will be appropriately recognised.
• An up-to-date database of student behaviour will be maintained.
• EdSpace staff will undertake professional development on student behaviour and discipline management annually.
• The school curriculum will include units on resilience, peer pressure, positive choices, bullying, conflict resolution and leadership.
• Students experiencing difficulty achieving positive behavioural outcomes will undertake individualised behaviour management programs focussing upon agreed goals.
• Consequences for ongoing inappropriate behaviour will be developed on an individual                                    basis in consultation with psychologists and other appropriate professionals.
• Parents will be kept informed, and actively encouraged to assist in the development of their children’s behavioural performance.
• Behaviour management will be guided by best practice in the education and medical fields.

 

Evaluation:

 

This policy will be reviewed as part of the school’s 12-month review cycle.

 

                      This policy was last ratified by School Council in....                         June 2022                    

 

EDSPACE'S COMMITMENT TO CHILD SAFETY

All students enrolled, and any child visiting EdSpace Benalla, have a right to feel safe and be safe. EdSpace actively works to listen to and empower children. EdSpace has systems to protect children from abuse, will take allegations very seriously and will respond to them consistently in line with the organisation's policies and procedures. EdSpace is committed to promoting cultural safety of Aboriginal Children, cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and provide a safe environment for children with a disability.

WE, CAPABILITY BUILDING TA EDSPACE EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRE, ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND. WE PAY OUR RESPECTS TO THEIR ELDERS PAST AND PRESENT AND TO ELDERS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES.