Restorative Practice is a term used to describe behaviours, interactions and approaches which help to build and maintain positive, healthy relationships, resolve difficulties and repair harm where there has been conflict. It is an internationally renowned practice and evidence has shown that outcomes for children and families are improved with restorative practice approaches. It aims to remove barriers, promote a sense of community and enable all participants to understand social responsibility and shared accountability.
Restorative practice can take place both formally and informally, depending on the need and severity of the situation, and is undertaken by trained staff. As of June, all staff in school will be trained in restorative practice approaches.
Effective restorative practice allows all participants to share their thoughts and feelings in a constructive manner, with a focus on building relationships and repairing harm. Many questions are asked and, often, the participants draw their own conclusions. The main three questions are:
What happened?
Who was affected?
How were they affected?