Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

HELP FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS

If you need help to understand the information in this policy, please contact Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School on 03 5174 1607 or traralgon.ps.stockdale@education.vic.gov.au.

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
c. support available to students and families
d. our school’s policies and procedures for responding to inappropriate student behaviour.

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) 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

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School is located in Traralgon, the largest city in the Latrobe Valley, approximately 160 km east of Melbourne. As one of four government schools in Traralgon, we maintain a consistent enrolment of 450-460 students, with stable Student Family Occupation (SFO) and Student Family Education (SFOE) indices.

Our school features single-cohort classes for Prep to Grade 2 and multi-age classes for Grades 3/4 and 5/6, alongside specialist programs in Art, Physical Education, Science, and Paddock to Plate. Every classroom benefits from dedicated Education Support staff, and all students receive weekly Auslan language instruction.

The school is led by a full-time Principal, two Assistant Principals, and four Learning Specialists (two classroom-based), supported by a full-time Wellbeing Officer/Youth Counsellor and a part time Community Health Nurse. Student support is further strengthened by our on-site Speech Therapist and School Psychologist, who assist students receiving Tier 3 Disability Inclusion Funding and Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) support as of 2025.

Stockdale Road embraces a ‘Science of Learning’ methodology, continually refining our Explicit Direct Instruction approach, with structured literacy and numeracy blocks aligned to the Gradual Release of Responsibility framework. To enhance our educational practices, we collaborate with renowned educational experts, including Brendan Lee, Nathaniel Swain, Bronwyn Ryrie-Jones, and Jocelyn Seamer.

We foster leadership development through a variety of roles, including traditional positions such as School Captains, Junior School Council, and House Captains, as well as specialized Environmental, Transition, Library, Art, and Resource Leader roles. Our unique student leadership selection process involves both peer and staff input and culminates in a comprehensive leadership program for elected School Captains at the beginning of each school year.

2. School values, philosophy and vision

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School’s mission and vision is to build strong relationships with students, families and the community and to demonstrate excellence in teaching and learning.

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School’s philosophy reflects a developmental, child centred approach that is anchored in the personal interest of each child. The school seeks to educate the whole child by nurturing their cognitive, linguistic, physical, social and emotional growth.

Students demonstrate our school values by understanding and demonstrating our School Promise.

Our Statement of Values and School Philosophy is available here.

3. Wellbeing and engagement strategies

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) 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, and 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

Our whole of school strategies to promote positive behaviour and inclusion are:

• 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 Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School use evidenced-based, high impact teaching strategies in all learning sessions

• teachers at Traralgon (Stockdale Road) 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 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 at a whole-school, cohort and individual level

• students have the opportunity to contribute to and provide feedback on decisions about school operations through the School Captains, Junior School Council and classroom discussion. Students are also encouraged to speak with their teachers, Assistant Principals and Principal whenever they have any questions or concerns.

• create opportunities for cross—age connections amongst students through whole school sport and celebration days.

• all students are welcome to self-refer to their classroom teacher, Student Wellbeing Officer, 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

• Individual Learning Plan and Behaviour Support Plan for students where required

• Programs, incursions, and excursions developed to address issue specific needs or behaviour.

• referral to Student Welfare Coordinator and Student Support Services

• Opportunities for student inclusion (i.e. sports teams, clubs, recess and lunchtime activities.

• 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.

• We engage in school wide positive behaviour support with our staff and students, which includes programs such as:

  • Respectful Relationships

  • Safe Schools

  • Resilience Project.

Targeted

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School implements a range of strategies that support and promote individual engagement. These include:

• building constructive relationships with students at risk or students who are vulnerable due to complex individual circumstances

• Koorie 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

• 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 such as council based youth and family services, other allied health professionals, headspace, child and adolescent mental health services or ChildFirst

Individual

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) 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 such as council-based youth and family services, other allied health professionals, headspace, child and adolescent mental health services or ChildFirst

  • 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 Plan 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

  • and with other complex needs that require ongoing support and monitoring.

4. Identifying students in need of support

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) 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. Traralgon (Stockdale Road) 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

• self-referrals or 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, 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.

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, Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School will institute a staged response, consistent with the Department’s Student Engagement and Inclusion Guidelines. 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 students 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 Assistant Principals or Principal

• restorative practices

• detentions

• 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 Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School is responsible for ensuring all suspensions and expulsions are recorded on CASES21.

7. Engaging with families

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) 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

• maintaining an open, respectful line of communication between parents and staff, supported by our Communicating with School Staff policy.

• 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

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) 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

Traralgon (Stockdale Road) 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:

• Provided to staff at induction and included in staff handbook/manual

• Discussed at staff meetings/briefings as required

• Made available publicly on our school website

• 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 policies and resources are relevant to this Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy:

• Attendance

• Behaviour – Students

• Child Safe Standards

• Expulsions

• Koorie Education

• LGBTIQA+ Student Support

• Restraint and Seclusion

• Student Engagement

• Students with Disability

• Supporting Students in Out-of-Home Care

• Suspensions

The following school policies are also relevant to this Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy:

• Action Plan – Aboriginal Learning, Wellbeing and Safety

• Bullying Prevention Policy

• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

• Complaints Policy

• Inclusion and Diversity Policy

• Statement of Values and School Philosophy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL