Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

e prevented or addressed early. The 2003 Church Report, funded by the Ministry of
Education, found that challenging behaviour becomes entrenched if it is not dealt with early,
and intervention programmes have lower rates of success if applied to older students.
There is growing concern that our schools are not as safe as they should be. Our students
need to feel safe and secure in their learning environment if we‟re going to raise
achievement.
The Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) programme being rolled out may beneficially
address challenging behaviour among school students and we will monitor its effectiveness.
Additionally, Secondary Schools need more support and guidance in dealing with the serious
behavioural issues they face with students.
Some schools require more guidance to prevent and manage incidents of bullying and
criminal acts such as assault. These are situations where schools can be supported by the
youth justice system and other government agencies.
Labour will provide targeted early intervention programmes to increased numbers of
parents and children. Teachers of young children will have access to programmes
that teach social skills and reduce problem behaviours.
Labour will determine what further support and resources schools require in dealing
with behavioural issues, including increasing the number of social workers available
to all levels of the compulsory education sector.
Labour will amend National Administration Guideline 5 to make it compulsory for all
primary and secondary schools to have an effective anti-bullying programme.
Labour will enhance Ministry of Education guidelines to give more certainty to
schools in dealing with the perpetrators of bullying, and provide external multi-agency
support for schools in cases of criminal activity, such as assault.
Healthy food and exercise in schools
The National Government‟s dumping of schools‟ nutritional guidelines flew in the face of
evidence that rates of childhood obesity are rising in New Zealand. Research shows eating
habits are cemented in childhood and adolescence, and overweight children are more likely
to grow up to be obese adults. Most parents and teachers, and all health professionals,
know that high-fat, high-sugar diets can wreak havoc with kids‟ energy and attention spans,
and can badly affect their abilities to stay focused in the classroom.
Labour will re-instate National Administrative Guidelines for schools on the sale of
healthy food.
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