Overview

A module of the ÆSOP Series - An Exceptional Schooling Outcomes Program

Welfare or student support programs are directed at student well-being. As such they concentrate on establishing both the conditions for learning and students' readiness for academic development.

Welfare programs are 'everything the school community does to meet the personal, social and learning needs of students'. Programs may be witnessed in many forms - a breakfast program, camp, excursion, anti-racism policy, school discipline policy, leadership development, behaviour management activity - but common to all is the determination to ensure students feel safe, have a sense of belonging, have positive self-esteem, trust their teachers and accept responsibility.

The six exceptional Welfare programs described herein were observed by the authors in a diversity of communal and socioeconomic locations. Common to these flourishing programs were a framework of clear rights and responsibilities consistently exercised; integrity of teachers; links within and beyond the respective schools; a positive school culture wherein teachers demonstrated that they cared for their students; and a whole-school focus on students and their learning.