What does this mean? We use the Restorative Model to work with students to support them with their behaviour and making good choices. This is an international model that is widely used in schools in New Zealand for children to solve problems and build relationships when things go wrong.

Restorative practice is a relational approach to school life grounded in beliefs about equality, dignity, mana and the potential of all people. The PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) RP (Restorative Practice) model focuses on building and maintaining positive relationships across the school community, and offers school staff best-practice tools and techniques to restore relationships when things go wrong.

PB4L is built on the foundation that positive behaviour can be learnt, and that environments can be changed to improve behaviour, to support effective teaching and learning. It also reflects the belief that schools play a major role in creating safe and healthy societies.

The RP approach to problem solving recognises that misconduct harms people and relationships and that those involved in the problem also need to be involved in finding a solution.

Fostering positive, respectful relationships with young people can have a profound impact on their overall behaviour, learning, and achievement outcomes. By viewing ‘problems as problems’ rather than ‘people as problems’, people can talk with each other in a respectful manner, and talk with themselves in ways that support their responsibility and their accountability (White, 1989).

Restorative practice has been described as doing things ‘with’ people rather than ‘to’ or ‘for’ them. The idea is that if people are part of a process, they are happier, more cooperative and productive, and more likely to make permanent positive changes.