Restorative Practice

“Research has found that restorative practices can offer a powerful and effective approach to promoting harmonious relationships in schools and to the successful resolution of conflict and harm.”

Improving relationships and positive behaviour in Scotland's schools, 2008.

Pupils and staff work together to achieve a common knowledge and understanding of emotions and feelings in order to have the emotional literacy necessary for restorative conversations where situations are resolved, and solutions agreed upon.

Restorative practices;

• Build and repair relationships

• Develop and maintain mutual respect

• Preserve a sense of belonging and strengthen community ties

• Ensure everyone is given a voice and feels heard

• Empower those with conflict to resolve it for themselves

• Ensure accountability

• Develop empathy and conscience.

Restorative approaches are not about teaching children ‘to do what they are told’ they are about teaching children to be responsible citizens.  Restorative approaches ensure that the person who is showing undesirable behaviour acknowledges responsibility for this and takes steps to repair harm. Through using restorative language this then helps the child to understand, manage and reflect on their own behaviour.

Restorative questions used in informal conversations and formal meetings follow on from restorative thinking and the silent questions we have already reflected on internally. Restorative questions should explore behaviour, thoughts and feelings, and follow a timeline:

Restorative Questions 1

To respond to challenging behaviour:

·          What happened?

·          What were you thinking about at the time?

·          What have your thoughts been since?

·          Who has been affected by what you did?

·          In what way have they been affected?

·         What do you think you need to do to move things forward?

Restorative Questions 2

To help those harmed by others’ actions:

·         What did you think when you realised what had happened?

·         What have your thoughts been since?

·         How has this affected you and others?

·         What had been the hardest thing for you?

·         What do you need to do to move things forward?