Active supervision

Active supervision is the observation, focused attention and intentional interaction with students within the school community, to create an environment that is safe and responsive to the needs of all.  Staff position themselves to observe all students: watching, monitoring, and listening at all times.  Staff have knowledge and understanding of students’ development of social and emotional abilities, to enable the acknowledgment of positive behaviour, anticipation of behaviour and redirection when necessary.  Staff members are aware of the impact of their actions and work to de-escalate behaviour.  Active supervision involves:

• Understanding duty of care by being aware of and acting on potential risks to student emotional and physical safety
• Being underpinned by the School Wide Expectations
• Purposefully interacting and connecting with students
• Positioning to have a high degree of visibility
• Actively moving around the space during supervision
• Visually scanning, and using non-verbal signals to show that you notice behaviour
• Having processes to de-escalate by responding, diffusing and seeking assistance if required, to maintain dignity and emotional and physical safety 
• Staff understanding how their actions can escalate or de-escalate behaviour

Whole School Approach to Positive Behaviour Co-ordinators

Trish Martin and Travis Newton