This publication was originally published 29 June 2020.

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Research shows that a positive sense of belonging is associated with student academic and wellbeing outcomes.

• What does a positive sense of belonging look and sound like at your school?

Teacher-student relations are important to developing students’ sense of belonging.

• What strategies do you use to develop positive relationships with students so they feel valued and cared for?

Bullying has a negative impact on a student’s sense of belonging and can have long-term detrimental effects on mental health and wellbeing. Minimising bullying requires a whole-school approach, with systematic implementation and evaluation.

• What strategies can you use to prevent or reduce bullying behaviour at schools?

Setting high expectations for student behaviour and effective classroom management have been shown to improve students’ sense of belonging.

• What teaching strategies do you use to ensure students know behaviour expectations in different situations and can respond appropriately to challenges they face in different spaces in the school (for example, classroom, playground [structured and unstructured play], library, toilets)?

A whole-school emphasis on the value of social, emotional and academic outcomes and improvement helps convey to students that they are a valued part of the school community.

• How does the culture of your school develop a sense of belonging at school for students?