Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) is an evidence-based framework for establishing the social culture needed for schools to be effective learning environments for all students.
PBL ensures that all students have the social and emotional skills needed to succeed in school and beyond.
PBL assists schools to teach students expected social behaviours. This is the most effective response for preventing school-based behaviour problems including school violence and bullying. Teaching and supporting social behavioural skills to students creates student behavioural health and also contributes to academic support systems.
PBL applies data-based decision-making to discipline, academics and social and emotional learning.
PBL Schools operate differently from schools that use traditional discipline methods
In summary:
- “Traditional” approaches to behaviour "management" usually focus on students' problem behaviour, whereas PBL focuses on the needs that students are trying to meet by using the problem behaviour.
- “Traditional” approaches focus on stopping student problem behaviour through the use of punishment – often consequences that are undesirable to the student – whereas PBL focuses on actively teaching students replacement behaviours that allow them to get their needs met in more efficient and socially acceptable ways, and on acknowledging students for demonstrating appropriate behaviour.
- “Traditional” approaches often leave alterations to the teaching and learning environment out of the equation, assuming that students must change in order to accommodate the environment. In contrast, PBL focuses on changing the behaviour of adults to improve relationships, and on building environments that make the learning of replacement behaviours more effective and durable.
View information about the impact of Schoolwide Positive Behaviour (PDF, 41 KB) at schools.