SWPBS

School Wide Positive Behaviour Support at Sydenham Primary School

At Sydenham Primary School, we are committed to creating a positive and supportive learning environment for every student. A key part of this commitment is our implementation of School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS).

What is SWPBS?

SWPBS stands for School Wide Positive Behaviour Support. It is a proactive approach that helps schools promote positive behaviour, build a strong school culture, and ensure that all students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

How SWPBS works

SWPBS focuses on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviours consistently across the whole school. It involves:

Clearly defining behavioural expectations based on our school values.
Teaching these expectations explicitly to students.
Recognising and rewarding students for demonstrating positive behaviours.
Using data to inform decisions and improve programs.

Our SWPBS team and whole-school approach

While we have a dedicated SWPBS team guiding the initiative, successful SWPBS requires collaboration across the entire school community. Teachers, support staff, and leaders all play an active role in developing and implementing our SWPBS practices.

SWPBS Induction for new families, students and staff

All members of our school community including families, students, and staff are introduced to SWPBS through our induction process. Students are explicitly taught behavioural expectations at the beginning of each year and throughout their learning, with additional support provided for new students. Staff receive training and ongoing professional learning to ensure consistent implementation, and families are kept informed through communication, resources, and opportunities to engage with our SWPBS approach. This ensures a shared understanding of expectations across our entire school community.

Three tiers of SWPBS

SWPBS operates across three tiers:

Tier 1 – Universal Support: Strategies and practices that support all students.
Tier 2 – Targeted Support: Additional support for students who need extra guidance to meet behavioural expectations.
Tier 3 – Intensive Support: Individualised support for students with complex or persistent behavioural challenges.

In 2025, our focus was on Tier 1, laying a strong foundation of positive behaviours for all students. In 2026, we are continuing to build on Tier 1 while introducing Tier 2 strategies to provide additional support where needed.

SWPBS awards

Our school’s efforts have been recognised through the SWPBS Bronze Award, a fantastic accomplishment that highlights our commitment to positive behaviour and school culture. These awards celebrate schools that successfully implement SWPBS with fidelity and impact.

Our school values

Our approach is grounded in our four school values:

Respect – We treat others with kindness and care
Responsibility – We make good choices and take ownership
Learning – We strive to do our best and keep growing
Safety – We follow rules and stay safe

Our SWPBS Matrix and signs

Central to our program is the SWPBS Matrix, a visual tool that outlines expected behaviours across all areas of the school. Our matrix is based on our school values and helps students understand exactly what positive behaviour looks like in classrooms, playgrounds, and other school spaces.

We have created large, colourful signs that reflect each part our matrix and displayed them around the school, providing constant reminders and reinforcement for students.

Acknowledging positive behaviour

At Sydenham Primary School we believe it is important to recognise and celebrate the positive behaviours we see every day. Staff acknowledge students in a variety of ways, including:

Verbal praise and encouragement
Receiving a Sydenham Super Star card
Certificates presented at assembly
Opportunities to select rewards from our SWPBS shop (currently under construction)

These acknowledgements help reinforce our school values and encourage all students to continue demonstrating positive behaviours.

Using data to drive decisions

Our school collects and analyses Big 5 Data regularly to guide SWPBS decision-making. This data helps us:

Identify areas where students may need more support.

Plan targeted lessons and interventions.

Monitor the impact of SWPBS strategies on student behaviour.

Positive impact on school culture

Implementing SWPBS has had a tangible, positive impact on our school

community. Students are more aware of behavioural expectations, staff consistency has improved, and overall school culture is increasingly positive. These improvements directly support higher learning outcomes, as students are able to focus on learning in a safe, respectful environment.

We are proud of the progress our students and staff have made through SWPBS, and we look forward to continuing to build a positive, supportive, and safe school for everyone.

For more information on SWPBS please speak with any member of staff or visit the following website:

https://www.vic.gov.au/school-wide-positive-behaviour-support