The Positive Behaviour for Learning School-Wide framework, otherwise known as PB4L School-Wide, is helping New Zealand schools build a culture where positive behaviour and learning is a way of life. The framework can be tailored to your school’s own environment and cultural needs.

PB4L represents a major shift in managing behaviour by students in our education system. Positive behaviour is a prerequisite to improving the engagement and achievement of our children and young people. Positive behaviour can be learnt. Using a proactive approach, the environments around children can be changed to support positive behaviour.

PB4L uses evidence-based programmes and frameworks that we know can work. They provide opportunities to support and sustainable changes in behaviour. There are no quick fixes, however, as behaviour change takes time.

The Difference PB4L will make:

• Children and young people will be more engaged and will achieve.
• Educators will keep more children and young people at school and will feel confident and supported in addressing behaviour issues.
• Parents and whānau will have the confidence and strategies to build positive relationships with their children.
• School leaders and boards will monitor and improve approaches to build a positive culture and increase the engagement of their students.

Schools will build respectful partnerships with local Iwi and community groups to work together to create improved wellbeing, learning and behavioural outcomes for young people.

The School-Wide Framework:

PB4L School-Wide is described as a framework because:

• Any school can use this framework to design its own system of behavioural supports for students.
• It’s a process or approach to behaviour that supports data-based decision-making and problem-solving, helps schools select and deliver evidence-based practices that are right for their school and establishes systems to support the effective implementation of these practices.
• While schools across the world share this common framework and will have systems and practices in common, these will be implemented in a way that is context specific and dependent on the culture and values of the school and its community.

PB4L School-Wide takes schools through a tiered process.

• Tier 1 is the foundation on which the other two tiers are built. It looks at the support systems and processes across the whole school – things that impact on all students and adults.
• Tier 2 looks at interventions for students who require additional behaviour and learning support.
• Tier 3 looks at more individualised and intensive support for students who experience chronic, severe, and challenging behaviour.

The PB4L St Joseph's Papanui team finished the training for Tier 1 at the end of 2022. The implementation of this tier is currently being worked into everything we do across the school. This tier is described as 'painting the school green'. 

The PB4L team members are Aaron Richards, Liz Beattie, Melissa Segar, Brylee Riddle, Jayden Cameron & Sarah Philpott.

If you have any questions regarding PB4L please email Liz Beattie liz.beattie@stjopapa.school.nz