Restorative = Therapeutic Rapport
Therapeutic: approach is mutually beneficial
Rapport: building understanding to repair relationships
Why use restorative approaches?
Some people may believe that children and young people who bully others must be punished for their behaviour. This type of response can be ineffective, dangerous, breed resentment and make situations worse as a child or young person can be resentful of punishment rather than reflective of their actions. Children and young people require the opportunity to hear about and face up to the harm and distress they have caused others. Restorative approaches are built on values which separate the person from the behaviour. They promote accountability and seek to repair any harm caused in a situation.
What are restorative approaches?
Schools may use restorative approaches as part of a planned response to relationship and/or discipline difficulties. This is a more effective response than traditional punishments. Restorative approaches can change the emotional atmosphere in a school and lead to more positive relationships between pupils and between pupils and staff. A restorative approach may include having a ‘restorative conversation’. These conversations may happen during the school day and practitioners will use restorative language and questions to allow children and young people to understand the impact of their behaviours.
Reasons for being restorative:
- Recognise the impact of actions and any harm caused, and consider steps to make things right.
- Move from the managing of problem behaviour to the nurturing and repair of relationships.
- Non-Judgmental Approach.
- Encouraging learners to empathise with the people around them.
- To encourage the repair of harm to a relationship.
- Creating dialogue prior to situations escalating.
- Thinking about the language we use.
- Allowing learners to move on once an issue has been dealt with.
- Helping learners to learn how to deal with situations where they have made the wrong choice.
For more information see our Restorative Approaches leaflet here.
You can access our Bitesize CLPL Restorative Approaches video on our Professional Learning Blog, here.
