Restorative Approaches and Practices

The National Centre for Restorative Approaches in Youth Settings

The National Centre for Restorative Approaches in Youth Settings

English

English

Anti-bullying technique, wide range of resources, training courses also available, site also useful for adults working in residential childcare,

Web Site

Teachers, School Directors, Residential Childcare.

The Restorative Approach to resolving conflict is outlined on the web site recommended (see the link below)and consists of asking four questions:

1)What has happened?
2)Who has been affected?
3)How can we involve everyone who has been affected in finding a
way forward?
4)How can everyone do things differently in future?

It is based on the belief that the people best placed to resolve a conflict or a problem are the people directly involved, and that imposed solutions are less effective, less educative and possibly less likely to be honoured.

Restorative Approaches can:
1)Improve the emotional and social skills of staff and young
people
2)Develop a sense of community and belonging
3)Resolve problems amongst groups of young people and/or staff
4)Address bullying and gang conflicts with confidence
5)Reduce exclusions
6)Run effective re-integration meetings

The approach, puts repairing harm done to relationships and people over and above the need for assigning blame and dispersing punishment. It is is based on the belief that the people best placed to resolve a conflict or a problem are the people directly involved, and that imposed solutions are less effective, less educative and possibly less likely to be honoured.

Restorative Justice has been included in our selection of 'Resources' because it is an excellent anti-bullying technique The potential advantages are:

1)A safer, more caring environment A more effective teaching and learning environment.

2)A greater commitment by everyone to taking the time to listen to one another.

3)A reduction in bullying and other interpersonal conflicts.

4)A greater awareness of the importance of connectedness to young people. The need to belong and feel valued by peers and significant adults.

5)Greater emphasis on responses to inappropriate behaviour that seek to reconnect, and not further disconnect, young people.

6)Reductions in fixed term and permanent exclusions.

7)A greater confidence in the staff team to deal with challenging situations.

8)An increased belief in the ability of young people to take responsibility for their choices, and more people giving them opportunities to do so.

We feel that this is a technique which is like the pieces of a jigsaw, which, put together, create a congruent whole school approach to relationship building and conflict management and it is one which has been successfully tried and tested in many school settings.

Overall we recommend the technique and the resources and training available from the 'Restorative Justice' site.

http://www.transformingconflict.org/Restorative_Approaches_and_Practices.htm

Wilsthorpe Community School