Restorative approaches

Restorative practice gives a clear overarching mindset and strategic framework and supports any targets that depend on building, maintaining and repairing relationships.

It offers schools an alternative way of addressing discipline and behavioural issues. It also provides school staff with a consistent framework for preventing and dealing with problems.

The important thing to remember is that restorative practice should not be seen as a behavioural management tool and, if used as such in isolation, it's simply not effective.

Benefits of restorative approaches

The benefits of using restorative approaches are:

• Improved relationships and wellbeing among pupils and staff
• Staff better equipped to manage difficult situations
• Children and young people empowered to make their own decisions
• Pupils encouraged and supported to take responsibility for their actions
• Improved communication skills
• Improved emotional literacy
• Reduced exclusions and persistent absenteeism

Using circles

Circles are very useful in school settings. They provide an opportunity for every person in the circle to have a voice in an inclusive and supportive environment.

A variable number of individuals can participate in a circle, which helps everyone to be of equal status and encourages all to participate.

There are different types of circles such as check-in and check-out circles, community and relationship building circles, and problem solving and restorative circles, just to name a few.

Circles help to build relationships by practicing skills such as speaking, listening, turn taking, problem solving, and enjoying and appreciating each other's company. Some of these skills are key elements of socio-emotional effectiveness.

Restorative conferencing

A restorative conference has the potential to build understanding, empathy and positive relationships among individuals and communities.

It has the capacity to deal with the root of the problem, which can help to prevent the situation arising again.

Full conferences are used to deal with more serious incidents in settings such as schools, children's residential homes, the Criminal Justice System and in communities. They are formal meetings and require careful preparation and management by an experienced facilitator.

Conferencing can also be used to find resolution within families.

A mini conference, also called an impromptu conference, is less formal and can be held immediately when harm has been caused.

It follows the same principles as the full formal conference but is used generally for less serious incidences of harm and requires less planning.