Restorative Approach
St. Philip’s Catholic Primary School is proud to be a Restorative School, which means we teach our children to build and maintain relationships. When things go wrong, as they sometimes do, we have forgiveness as the heart of all that we do.
What are Restorative Approaches?
Restorative practice is a term used to describe a way of being, an underpinning ethos, which enables us to build and maintain healthy relationships, resolve difficulties and repair harm when relationships breakdown.
Restorative approaches are value-based and needs-led.
They can be seen as part of a broader ethos or culture that identifies strong, mutually respectful relationships and a cohesive community and the foundations on which good teaching and learning can flourish. In such a community, young people are given a lot of responsibility for decision-making on issues that affect their lives, their learning and their experiences of school.
What are the key benefits of Restorative Approaches in schools?
- A safer, more caring and respectful environment.
- A more effective teaching and learning environment.
- Better relationships amongst staff and pupils.
- Greater emphasis on responses to inappropriate behaviour that seek to reconnect, and not further disconnect, young people.
- Emotional literate pupils, who can express their feelings and show empathy towards the feelings of others.
- Restorative Approaches and Practices provide the foundation to build, maintain and repair relationships positively with the whole school community.