Restorative Approaches
At Dovers Green we use Restorative Approaches as a way of helping resolve conflict situations and it is part of our Behaviour Policy. Restorative Approaches involves helping the child think through their behaviour, its consequences and what they can do to make it better. It is centred around developing, maintaining and repairing relationships and building a community based around empathy and self-learning, where children take responsibility for their behaviour. Restorative practice is centred around a set of key questions that help children think about their behaviour and understand how they can correct it. We have introduced the ‘Three Bubble Conversation’ to help children and adults sort out problems that may have occurred. The children are taught to use this approach, facilitated by an adult when necessary.
We hope that this is something that you can use at home as well to solve any issues that arise. We are trying to avoid a simple ‘sorry’ as an acceptable resolution but to encourage the children to say what needs to happen now or next time a situation occurs. For example, ‘I need you to stop using unkind words.’ We use this approach to resolve ‘minor’ issues and whilst we would use this to help the children involved in more serious incidents understand the impact of their actions, there would be appropriate sanctions applied and parents are spoken to in these situations.
It is important to point out that this approach is not a ‘soft option’. We’re not explaining away or excusing behaviour, but in fact trying to stop these behaviours from repeating. Research has shown that when children take responsibility for their behaviour, it is a lot harder for them to repeat the harmful behaviour.
Restorative Appproaches in schools have a number of proven benefits. Children show:
- Improved positivity, resilience and responsibility-taking
- Improved behaviour management
- Greater respect and courtesy towards teachers and each other
- Increased empathy
- An understanding of how to make wrongs right.
Dovers Green is proactive in creating a safe nurturing environment and in addition to the Restorative Approaches, we use other strategies to maintain this such as: School Council, Playground Friends, Pupil Voice and the ‘Buddy Bench’ which is a place where the children can go and sit if they have a problem or are having difficulties in finding someone to play with. An adult or one of our ‘Playground Friends’ will go and talk to them. Playground Friends are selected from within year 2, trained and then given a designated day to fulfil their role of responsibility. They even have a job description!
If you would like to discuss this approach any further, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Rachel Moxley, PSHE & Anti-Bullying lead.