Real Schools

Restorative Practice A pro-social approach to resolving conflict 

Conflict is an inevitable part of life! How we work to resolve conflict impacts a school’s climate and culture and, ultimately, students’ social and academic outcomes. Schools need to be safe places where young people can learn and thrive in a supportive, enriching environment. 

Restorative Practice is a positive approach that works with students rather than doing things to them or for them. 

A restorative approach focuses on building and maintaining positive relationships in the school community. It aims to create a culture of respect, inclusion, cooperation, accountability and responsibility. 

Ballarat North Primary School has partnered with Real Schools to deliver professional development for our staff and to provide support and education to our school community to build a restorative practice model that best works for us. 

Understanding Restorative Practice 

Restorative Practice is a teaching and learning approach that promotes self-regulation and encourages supportive and respectful behaviour. It puts the onus on individuals to be truly accountable for their behaviour and to repair any harm caused to others due to their actions. When schools are restorative, they: 

• value quality relationships 

• model empathy and respectful relationships 

• value student voice and utilise collaborative problem solving 

• view inappropriate behaviours as opportunities for learning 

• apply procedural fairness 

• recognise the importance of repairing damaged relationships 

• separate the ‘deed’ from the ‘doer’ 

• use active listening and positive language and tone 

• avoid scolding, judging, lecturing or blaming 

• foster self-awareness in the student 

• implement consequences that are proportional and fair 

• remain future focused. 

To find out more about Restorative Practice at BNPS keep your eye on the Facebook page and future newsletters as we share more about what this means for students, teachers and families at BNPS.