Restorative Practices

Central to building thriving communities, a restorative school is one which emphasizes the importance of relationship building across the school community and represents a paradigm shift that focuses on the harm done, rather than on the rule broken, in the restoration of relationships when conflict and wrong-doing occur. It is a reflective practice that enables those who have been harmed to convey the impact of the harm, and for those responsible to acknowledge the impact and take steps to make it right. Restorative approaches refer to a range of methods and strategies, which can be used both to prevent and respond to relationship-damaging incidents if they happen. Becoming a restorative school has many benefits, including increased attendance, reduced exclusions and improved achievement. It can also alleviate problems such as bullying, classroom disruption, truancy and poor attendance, antisocial behavior, and disputes between pupils, their families, and members of staff.