Implementing Restorative Practices in schools can result in: a reduction in exclusions, improvement in attainment, a more positive school learning environment, and promotion of emotional literacy. 

 

Space2face offers a range of training and professional development options for school staff and students. These can either be the first steps towards creating a restorative school or as ongoing and refresher training for those that are already implementing restorative practices within the school community. We also tailor courses to fit your specific requirements - please get in touch.

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Space2face has been delivering training sessions in Restorative Approaches for schools since 2015. In the Scottish context, we relate our Restorative Practices training to the Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes and curriculum areas. Our training methods are interactive and dialogue based and include video, practical and creative exercises, powerpoint and flipchart. 

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The training courses we offer for schools are:

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• In-Service session - an overview of Restorative Practices (2 hours)

This course provides a basic understanding of Restorative Practices, their underlying principles, and an overview of how they are implemented in schools locally, nationally and internationally.

Outcome: a basic understanding of Restorative Practices and Justice and their underlying principles. 

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• One day introduction to Restorative Practices (6 hours) 

This course is in 3 distinct sections and provides an overview of Restorative Practices and their underlying skills, values and processes. It also offers practical exercises and steps in how to implement a whole school approach. This one day training may also be split into 3 twilight sessions:

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Session 1: 

● An overview of restorative practices versus punitive approaches to harm and conflict (including bullying). 

● An introduction to Restorative language. 

● An understanding of the local, national and international context. 

● An overview of the skills, values and processes involved in Restorative ways of working and the importance of a whole school approach to implementing Restorative practices. 

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Session 2: 

● An understanding of Restorative processes and Restorative questioning

● An understanding of Restorative values. 

● An understanding of Restorative skills. 

● An understanding of what constitutes full and partial Restorative Approaches. 

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Session 3: 

● An introduction to integrating creative ways of working into the restorative approach. 

● Practical exercises in restorative questioning and demonstrating restorative values. 

● Practical demonstrations and exercises in using the restorative circle to gain an understanding of its inclusiveness and equality. 

● An overview of the potential positive outcomes from restorative interventions in schools when facilitated by appropriately trained staff. 

 

Outcome: a basic understanding of restorative ways of working in contrast to punitive approaches and an ability to use restorative questioning in response to situations of harm, conflict and bullying. 

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Please note: the above course is not equipping participants to be Restorative Practitioners - only the 3 day course achieves this. 

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• Three day Restorative Practices Facilitation (18 hours)

This course will include elements of the one day course but will be tailored for each school’s specific requirements. 

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At the conclusion of the three day course, participants will understand and have practised a range of restorative interventions and will be able to restoratively intervene in situations of harm or conflict in the school. Participants will have a more in depth understanding and experience of Restorative Practices and its underlying principles, skills, values and processes, and how to implement a whole school approach. Throughout the course, participants will be closely mentored and informally assessed for competency against the required skills, values and processes for restorative working. 

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Following this course, a period of mentoring will be required for trained and assessed staff members - Space2face will negotiate this with the school according to individual requirements. We will also be available to be called in as mentors and/ or consultants in particularly complex or sensitive cases.