Supporting Student Engagement

At Southern Grove Primary School, we recognise that social and emotional learning is fundamental to student success. We refer to this as behaviour education and place a strong emphasis on explicitly teaching the skills and strategies students need to manage their thoughts, emotions and actions.

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We hold high expectations for all students and understand that behaviour is developmental and must be explicitly taught. Our approach is proactive and supportive, ensuring students are guided to make positive choices and develop the skills needed for lifelong success. When inappropriate behaviours occur, we use a restorative approach, focusing on reflection, accountability and repairing relationships. For further information, please refer to our Supporting Student Engagement Policy.

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To support student development, we implement the Play Is The Way program, which focuses on building socially and emotionally competent students who demonstrate empathy, resilience and respect for others. Through this approach, students learn that positive behaviour is developed over time through consistent, meaningful experiences.

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“Behaviour is shaped by the sum total of regular and frequent lessons that create small but meaningful changes over a long and sustained period of time.”
- Wilson McCaskill, Founder of Play Is The Way

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Through engaging, physically interactive games and activities, students build personal and social capabilities in authentic and meaningful ways. A key principle that underpins our approach is the Golden Rule: “Treat others as you would like them to treat you.”

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The program is guided by five core principles, known as the Life Raft Concepts, which act as a moral compass for students, staff and the wider community. These are embedded across all areas of school life:

• Treat others as you would like them to treat you

• Be brave – participate to progress

• Pursue your personal best, regardless of who you work with

• Have reasons for the things you say and do

• It takes great strength to be sensible

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By consistently reinforcing these principles, we support students to develop the skills, attitudes and behaviours needed to engage positively with their learning and the world around them.